New Poll: Most Americans Support Medical Marijuana, Oppose Federal Prosecution
According to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll, the majority of Americans are in favor of allo
wing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for their patients, and most feel that the federal government should not prosecute patients or dispensaries in states where medical marijuana is legal.
The poll surveyed 1,000 people and asked “Would you favor or oppose allowing doctors to prescribe small amounts of marijuana for their patients?” – 60% responded that they were in favor, with only 26% stating they were opposed. Although Democrats were found to be most likely to support legalizing medical marijuana (with 69% in favor to 21% opposed), the majority of independents were in favor (61% to 24%), and even more Republicans supported than opposed (46% to 38%). The survey found that the majority of every age group support legalized medical marijuana.
In regards to federal enforcement, the majority of respondents felt that patients and dispensaries should not be prosecuted. The poll asked if the federal government should exempt patients and dispensaries who follow state law from enforcement, and 57% responded that yes, they should be exempt, and 25% said they should enforce drug laws the same way they do in every other state. Again, each voter party was more in favor of the exemption than opposed, with 61% of Democrats in favor (22% opposed), 60% of independents in favor (20% opposed) and 43% of Republicans in favor (37% opposed).
Out of all respondents, 55% felt that the federal government should not enforce its laws on cannabis in the two states that have legalized recreational use (29% felt they should enforce the laws).
This comes at a time when multiple states have been found to be overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing medical, and even recreational marijuana. Recent po
lling has shown that in states like New York and Pennsylvania, 82% support legalizing medical marijuana, and in places like New Jersey (59%), as well as in states like Oregon (63%) and even Arizona (56%), the majority of voters are in favor of full legalization. One recent poll has found 85% of Americans support patients’ legal right to use medical marijuana. According to another Huffington Post / YouGov poll, 57% of Americans support marijuana legalization outright, and 74% believe legalization is inevitable.
One thing is for sure; support for medical and recreational marijuana legalization is on the rise, at an incredible rate. This sweeping motion of support for cannabis law reform offers evidence that the citizens of the U.S. no longer support this war on marijuana, and gives hope that prohibition may soon come to an end.
– TheJointBlog