The top reason people support marijuana legalization is because of its medical value to patients, and the top reason others oppose reform is because they’re concerned about impaired driving.
That’s according to a Gallup poll released on June 12, 2019, which explored not just whether people are in favor of legalizing cannabis but also the specific factors that inform their views. The survey was conducted from May 15-30, 2019, and involved phone interviews with 1,017 U.S. adults.
A strong majority of Americans said that cannabis should be legal, though support dipped slightly from 66% in October 2018 to 64% in the current survey. Among supporters, 86% said that marijuana’s therapeutic value is a “very important” factor in their position.
Seventy percent said a very important reason they back legalization is because it would free up law enforcement resources, 60% said it was “a matter of freedom and personal choice,” 56% cited tax revenue from legal sales as a very important factor and 47% said government regulation would ensure safety standards for consumers.
Source: Gallup
For both supporters and opponents, the perceived harm of marijuana was one of the least important considerations. Thirty-five percent of legalization backers said they favor the policy because they believe cannabis isn’t harmful and 54% of opponents said they’re against reform because they feel it is harmful.
86% of those in favor of the legalization of marijuana say its medicinal benefits are a very important reason. https://t.co/9qWEuZZhnr pic.twitter.com/TVVrRifSB5
— GallupNews (@GallupNews) June 12, 2019
Opponents are primarily concerned that legalization would lead to more frequent instances of impaired driving, with 79% citing that as a “very important” factor contributing to their stance. Interestingly, a federal report released earlier this month called into question how or whether THC impairs driving, though most advocates and opponents alike urge against driving after consuming.
Source: Gallup
Sixty-nine percent of opponents said cannabis is a “gateway drug” and that’s a very important factor in their reasoning, 62% listed legalization’s alleged potential to encourage more usage as very important, with 60% saying the same for the idea that the reform move “would not benefit society or individuals much” and 43% saying that for the notion that marijuana consumption is immoral.
“More states are considering making recreational use legal through either the legislative process or voter referendums. Also, nearly every Democratic 2020 presidential candidate favors making the drug legal,” Gallup wrote. “These trends in public policy are consistent with public opinion on the issue, and could lead to a day when marijuana use is legal nationwide.”
Featured Image: Photo by Jay Parker via Flicker
This article was republished from Marijuana Moment under a content syndication agreement. Read the original article here.
