Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2014
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2014 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC.
Contact:  http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365
Author: Markus Schmidt

POLL: 84% BACK LEGAL MEDICAL POT

But Recreational Marijuana Is Still Opposed In Virginia

A new poll finds that Virginia voters support legalizing medical
marijuana by an overwhelming 84 percent to 13 percent, but support for
recreational marijuana is divided with 46 percent in favor and 48
percent opposed.

Thirty-nine percent of Virginia voters say they have tried marijuana,
according to the survey released Monday from Quinnipiac University.

Dick Kennedy, with Virginia NORML, the National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws, said Monday that the poll numbers show that
Virginia "is moving toward more sensible drug policies, along with the
rest of the country, and the overwhelming support for medical
marijuana is something the legislature can't ignore in 2015."

The almost-even split on full legalization shows "a significant
change" in the past year, Kennedy said, citing a January 2013 poll by
Christopher Newport University's Wason Center for Public Policy
showing Virginians opposing it 53 percent to 40 percent.

In that survey of 1,015 registered Virginia voters, 72 percent said
they support legalization for medical use. But 53 percent opposed
legalization for recreational use, while 40 percent were in support.

Of all candidates running for statewide offices last year, only Robert
C. Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate for governor, supported
legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes.

"Support is growing quickly among all segments for a controlled, taxed
cannabis market," said Ed McCann, executive director of Virginia
NORML. "Legislators would also be well-served to implement medical
cannabis access, since the overwhelming majority of Virginians support
such. Support from those under 30 for more progressive policies is
widespread and will only increase as more states legalize cannabis."

Republicans support medical marijuana 75 percent to 21 percent, and
Democrats support it 92 to 6 percent, according to the Quinnipiac poll.

Democrats back legalizing marijuana for personal use by 58 to 35
percent, Republicans are opposed 68 to 27 percent and independent
voters are split 47 to 47 percent.

"More than four in five Virginians favor allowing the use of marijuana
for medical purposes, although on this question and others involving
the drug, support for its use is a bit lower than in some other states
where we conduct surveys," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the
Quinnipiac University Poll.

"When it comes to legalizing marijuana for recreational use,
Virginians are divided," Brown said.

The survey also shows that support for same-sex marriage among
Virginia voters remains unchanged since last summer, when the U.S.
Supreme Court struck down parts of the federal Defense of Marriage
Act.

Fifty percent of voters support allowing gay marriage, with 42 percent
opposed, according to the poll.

Women are stronger supporters of same-sex marriage than men with 54
percent in favor and 38 percent opposed, the poll finds. Men are
divided with 46 percent supporting and 48 percent opposed.

Marriage equality also remains a partisan issue, with 69 percent in
support and 22 percent opposed among Democrats. Republicans oppose it
70 to 23 percent. Independents support gay marriage 52 to 42 percent.

"Support for same-sex marriage in Virginia shows a similar pattern to
support for use of marijuana: The younger you are, the more Democratic
you are, the more likely you are to support both of these social
issues," Brown said.

The survey feeds evidence of a continuing transformation in public
opinion on gay marriage in Virginia since 57 percent of voters in 2006
supported an amendment to the state Constitution to define marriage as
between a man and a woman, with 43 percent opposed to the measure.

In July, almost seven years after the referendum vote and just weeks
after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of DOMA, a Quinnipiac
University poll suggested that 50 percent of voters supported allowing
same-sex marriage in the state, with 43 percent opposed. Seven percent
did not know or did not answer.

Last month, a federal judge in Norfolk struck down Virginia's marriage
amendment. The ruling is pending before the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals,
which will hear oral arguments May 13.

Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,288 voters between March 19 and 24.
The poll has a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D