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Poll shows vast support for medical marijuana, increased support for recreational pot

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Illinois
Polls

* The trend is not the prohibitionists’ friend…

Voters in Illinois show overwhelming support for medicinal marijuana use, but less than half of them support legalization for recreational use, according to a new poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The sample of 1,000 registered voters was taken Feb. 15 – 20 and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

When asked whether they favor or oppose legalized medicinal marijuana in Illinois, 82 percent express support for the policy. Only 16 percent oppose and 3 percent did not know or answered otherwise.

Currently there is a four-year pilot program in Illinois for the use of medical marijuana. That program is due to expire in 2018.

Overall support for medical marijuana has increased dramatically - by 19 percentage points - and opposition has been cut in half since a 2013 Institute poll asked a similar question. The 2013 poll showed 63 percent support and 32 percent opposition. The 2013 poll was taken before the current medicinal marijuana pilot program was in effect.

Support is less strong on the question of recreational marijuana. There are 51 percent who oppose legalization of recreational marijuana while 45 percent said it should be legal.

“We see clear support for medicinal marijuana, but recreational use is a mixed bag,” said David Yepsen, director of the Institute. “Medical use, recreational use, and decriminalization are all related but are still distinct public policy issues in the minds of many voters. They are likely to be issues in the debate over criminal justice reform, new revenues and public health,” he said.

Support for medicinal marijuana is strongest with younger voters. Among voters younger than 35, 90 percent favor medical use. Only 8 percent of those under 35 oppose medicinal use and 2 percent answered otherwise. On average, older voters were also supportive but not as strongly.

Younger voters are also much more supportive of legal recreational use than older voters. Among those younger than age 35, 72 percent support and 24 percent oppose. Support significantly decreases among people over 65 years old - with only 29 percent in support.

“These data show that substantial support for medical cannabis can be found in every demographic, and that support has substantially increased in the last few years. Another result to pay attention to is the heavily skewed support for recreational marijuana among millennials,” said Delio Calzolari, associate director of the Institute and one of the designers of the poll.

* Meanwhile…

The poll also gauged attitudes toward gay marriage and abortion.

* On the issue of marriage equality, 53 percent stated that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to legally marry and 25 percent said same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions, but not marry. There were 16 percent who said there should be no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

The U.S. Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry in a 5-4 decision. Illinois began recognizing same-sex marriage in 2014 and civil unions in 2011.

* On the question of abortion rights, 44 percent of Illinoisans said that abortion should be legal in certain circumstances and 36 percent said that abortion should be legal in all circumstances. There were 15 percent who stated that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.

* Related…

* The Intentional Failure of Illinois’s Medical Marijuana Program

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:33 pm

Comments

The state is moving at a slightly faster pace on this than fracking.

Slightly.

And we know how well that turned out for state revenue. /s

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:37 pm
IL needs revenue. Legalizing marijuana would be a good way to create more revenue without increasing taxes. If they are afraid to pass the whole thing, they should at least expand medicinal marijuana.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:47 pm
I have never understood why the federal and state legislators are involved in women’s abortion rights.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:48 pm
Come to where the flavor is - Marlboro Marijuana.

Pall Mall - where particular stoners congregate.

Us stoners, would rather fight than switch!

20,196 Doctors say “Luckies” are better for you - because they’re TOASTED!

You can take Marijuana out of the country, but - you can’t take the country out of Marijuana!

Camel Joints - Pleasure to burn!

I’ll walk a mile for a bong!

Marijuana Slims - the joint for women who just gotta get high.

As your dentist, I recommend VicePot!

“You’ve come a long way baby - to get where you got to today - you have your own kind of joint now baby - do you know where you are today?”

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:50 pm
“They are likely to be issues in the debate over criminal justice reform, new revenues and public health,”

Interesting that David Yepsen mentioned new revenues. Legalization, not just decriminalization of marijuana is key to removing the foundation for the police state/ prison/ courts/ for profit pipeline that mostly impacts young people.

If the downstate “law and order” Reps. can shake themselves free from the influence of the police unions that profit from more and more laws, reform can be accomplished so those young people can be treated instead of winding up in prison.

Comment by Payback Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Recreational w/in five years if Brucie continues to fight it. Sooner if he recognizes the tax benefits, but I doubt he will.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:55 pm
–The U.S. Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry in a 5-4 decision. Illinois began recognizing same-sex marriage in 2014 and civil unions in 2011.–

That’s an odd sentence. If you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t realize that Illinois passed a law allowing same-sex marriage prior to the Supreme Court ruling.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:56 pm
90% support among the under-35s is astonishing. I can’t think of any other issues that are as popular. in a few years the demographics will finally be on our side.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 1:59 pm
VMan, I’m more concerned about brand names such as Percocet, Vicodin and Oxycontin.

Those are the dangerous, addictive, prescription killers, the ones that drive you to street heroin when you run out of Dr. Feelgoods who will write a script.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Please make sure the 2018 sunset provision in the Medical Cannabis Act gets removed soon!

A lot of people are benefiting and a lot of business people have taken great risk to provide this product and service.

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:03 pm
The interesting duality of med-mar is that a lot of downstate Senators and Reps were opposed - and it barely passed the House - but local officials who want to bring growing facilities and dispensaries are willing to look past the stigma. They realize that there are jobs to be filled and revenues to be raised from the facilities and dispensaries. If an actual - and credible - revenue analysis comes out and if it looks like legalization might become a reality, then local officials and maybe some sheriffs and law enforcement officials might soften their stances.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Our medical marijuana law is a joke, needs to be greatly expanded. I fully support legalizing pot for recreational use. At least 50% of my friends use it. Who cares?

Comment by illinoised Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:10 pm
Expanded availability of Marijuana, about as popular as a millionaire tax, and about likely to be ignored by the folks we elect.

Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Legalize it already.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:27 pm
- illinoised - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:10 pm:

Our medical marijuana law is a joke, needs to be greatly expanded. I fully support legalizing pot for recreational use. At least 50% of my friends use it. Who cares?

- AC - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:23 pm:

Expanded availability of Marijuana, about as popular as a millionaire tax, and about likely to be ignored by the folks we elect.

Illinois is a laughing stock across the country. No wonder people are fleeing by the thousands each year.

Comment by Tone Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:31 pm
Figures from the Center for Disease Control on numbers of deaths per year in the USA:

* Prescription Drugs: 237,485 + 5000 traffic fatalities
* Tobacco: 390,323
* Alcohol: 88,013 + 16,000 traffic fatalities
* Cocaine: 4,906
* Heroin: 7,200
* Aspirin: 466
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 179
* Marijuana: 0, none, not a single fatal overdose in all medical history and almost no traffic problems.

So, which is safer???? Legalize, regulate and TAX!

Comment by Freedom Fighter Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:40 pm
VanillaMan I thought you supported individuals’ rights and liberties? How is cannabis prohibition different than alcohol prohibition?

$250 million invested in IL MMJ businesses, anyone know of any other industries that are putting that type of money across Illinois? Medical cannabis is a great way to help remove the stigma surrounding this plant and its consumers, given the overwhelming support among young people the writing is on the wall that this prohibition is crumbling. A bigger question is how will Illinois transition from medical to recreational? More jobs will be created via recreational but all those in the medical industry will need to figure out how to recoup their investments. Gov. Rauner wants to bring jobs and investment to Illinois yet he continues to stifle this industry that is knocking on the door…

Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Of course marijuana should be legal. But with the politicians we have in this state, we’ll get prohibition ended right behind Mississippi and Alabama.

Comment by Collinsville Kevin Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:48 pm
Question for subject matter experts-Don’t we have a problem with the current Med-Mar program, let alone any expansion, as long as the DEA keeps marijuana classified in Schedule 1 in the Controlled Substance list? I’ve read that this issue caused difficulties with the just-opened dispensaries in terms of banking. Just wondering if anyone knows.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:00 pm
AWESOME, DUDE!!!

Comment by Jeff Spicoli Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:07 pm
The continued normalization of mind altering drug use will not lead to an improved society.

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:09 pm
You’re right about that Saluki.

Comment by Mr. Hand Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:12 pm
–The continued normalization of mind altering drug use will not lead to an improved society.–

El Chapo and Al Capone would agree with you, I think. Bad for business, too.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:19 pm
i wonder what society saluki thinks he’s living in. maybe he should scroll up to freedom fighter’s CDC figures and notice that the top three killers are all legal and normalized.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:22 pm
Is the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute comprised of volunteers, or does SIUC pay someone to perform this poll?

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:36 pm
So abortions and same sex have more rights,and are more popular than hop heads?

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm
Legalize pot, tax it, regulate it. Let adults decide for themselves whether or not to use or abuse it. We need to quit being the nanny state for ‘vice’ items such as alcohol, gambling, or cigarettes. We are either adults with the freedom to make good/bad choices or we aren’t. Got a thing called the Bill of Rights to ensure that.

Decide appropriate levels for impairment, and continue to let employers treat it as they do alcohol for terms of discipline.

Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:02 pm
AA-
Thus far banking is not an issue for IL medical cannabis businesses. With the amount of regulations in Illinois there are a few local and community based banks that are willing to open accounts for this industry. In other states with less regulations banking is a very big issue, Illinois not so much.

Comment by frisbee Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:06 pm
Wordslinger @2:01 +1

Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:07 pm
and @3:19

Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:13 pm
I have a close relative who’s doctors has her taking a major amount of Norco ( a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone) every day for arthritis and other chronic pain. She has been using Norco every since it became the opiate of choice. Luckily for her, her insurance continues to allow her to buy it as a maintenance medicine. Unfortunately, that is not always the case when it comes to insurance providers. This has caused the steep increase of heroin abuse- after the prescription run out, the person in pain goes to the streets to find more of their “safe” narcotic. Heroin is much easier to find and cheaper to buy on the street than aftermarket hydrocodone, and also stops the pain (with horrible side effects, of course). There is plenty of information on this available out there. For those who support doctors being narcotics pushers but don’t want their neighbor lighting up a joint, this sin’t news they care to read about, but for anyone who has an open mind it only takes a few minutes to read the facts. It has helped steel my resolve to see legalization a reality in my lifetime.

Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:23 pm
legalize it and tax it! right and governments could use the dough.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:45 pm
Gnarly Dude!

Comment by Qui Tam Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:54 pm
Intentional failure is right. It has been rather obvious BVR does not support the med mar program. If the repeated rejections of the experts recommendations weren’t clear enough, putting someone with this resume (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephmwright) in charge of the program should erase any doubt. The administration’s actions is ensuring the program will not succeed.

It’s a shame, this program could be such an easy success for the administration.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:01 pm
Legalize marijuana with distribution through State facilities. No advertising of the product.

I think we will discover more harmful effects from marijuana over time. We know it changes the development of children’s brains.

Getting marijuana and other drugs into different distribution channels is worth some risk. Just try not to have people profit from encouraging use

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:02 pm
Whoever said that Illinois will be tight there with Alabama and Mississippi is correct. We live in a very conservative backward state.

Comment by Tone Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:41 pm
We need recreational marijuana to change our mood given the budget situation. It could be temporary measure until we get a budget.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 5:42 pm
prohibitionists are going to dig in harder now because their credibility is on the line. if legalization happens and a profitable, job-creating industry takes off, they’re going to have to answer for why they kept that from us for so long. and the public is *really* not going to like that answer.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:49 pm
A good way to increase revenue would be to creat a millionaire tax and legalize marijuana.

Comment by Oh come on Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:58 pm
–prohibitionists are going to dig in harder now because their credibility is on the line. if legalization happens and a profitable, job-creating industry takes off, they’re going to have to answer for why they kept that from us for so long.–

Not only that, but they’ve been robbing people blind with un-American “asset seizure” laws.

A tool designed to go after the likes of Tony Montana has been used as a revenue source by law enforcement across the country to tune up anyone they can get their hands on, guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:11 pm
it’s all about revenue for law enforcement. you don’t even have to be charged with a crime to become a victim of asset forfeiture. carrying a large amount of cash, is enough justification for the police to seize anything you have of value and make you fight in court to get it back.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:30 pm
Frisbee, thanks. Appreciate the info.

word, I’m with you on the legalized theft called “civil forfeiture” and I’m about as pro-law enforcement as it gets. Not much transparency about how stuff gets grabbed, and even less about how it” s used once it’s in custody. A major Statewide law enforcement agency was embarrassed a while back, though, when a FOIA revealed that a seized Lexus was being used as daily transportation by a non-police employee of the agency. Whoops.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:33 pm
Saluki- “The continued normalization of mind altering drug use will not lead to an improved society.”

Are you sure you attended SIU? I thought Carbs was a party destination school. You could be one of the old crabby baby boomer SIU grads. Lighten up dude!

Seriously though there is some excellent light green bud that has been grown within an hour from Carbongdale. I mean Carbondale. So I’ve heard.

How about growing weed in southern Illinois to build up an economic base that has been decimated since coal mining faded out? With the rolling hills south of Marion, it almost looks like Kentucky around there. Film an episode of Justified, pump up the local economy? C’mon man, everyone’s doing it!

Comment by Payback Wednesday, Mar 9, 16 @ 1:05 am
There is one slight problem with Vanilla man’s trying to compare marijuana with tobacco cigarettes: No one has died from marijuana’s direct toxicity, and yet, 400,000 die each year directly from tobacco. Beyond that, marijuana does not have to be smoked; edibles, vaporization, tinctures - all are safe methods of ingestion.

Comment by georgeatt Thursday, Mar 10, 16 @ 7:00 am