As Legalization Question Headed for the Ballot, Poll Shows Voters Split

A new poll in Washington state shows that voters are evenly split on the question of legalizing marijuana for all adults.  The poll published this week was done by Elway Research, 1`that asked 411 randomly selected voters about legalization this way:

“Washington voters may be asked this fall to vote on an initiative to legalize marijuana in Washington state, as things stand today, how are you inclined to vote on that measure?”

48 percent said they would vote yes, with 45 percent saying they would vote no. The margin of error is five percentage points, putting the results at a possible tie. Back in July, the Elway poll had a more general question about legalizing marijuana, and 54 percent of the voters expressed support then. The pollsters say that initiative sponsors should be concerned because typically undecided voters of initiatives usually end up voting no.

The poll showed what marijuana activist already know, that women voters are far less likely to support legalization, in this case 52 percent of men said yes on the poll, and only 43% of women, and that younger voters are more supportive of legalization than older voters, 69 percent of those polled under 35 said yes to the question. The group that is putting the first legalization question on the ballot for 2012, New Approach Washington, said that they aren’t particularly worried about the poll. Allison Holcomb, the campaign director for New Approach Washington thinks the results would have been better for legalization if they had included wording about he estimated $215 million in tax revenue that would be earmarked for health care and abuse prevention. She says that inclusion would have swayed some of those polled. She said that the voters in her state care about the details. One of the details, some say the legalization bill, i-205’s driving under the influence provision that penalizes anyone caught with more than 5 nanograms of THC in their bloodstream with a DUI, will be a problem with the vocal medical marijuana patients in the state.

External Links:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2017157404_new_poll_shows_voters_split_on.html