Mike Davis

Asbury Park Press

WEST LONG BRANCH — Support for legal weed in New Jersey has hit a high-water mark.

A record 62 percent of New Jerseyans favor the marijuana legalization for recreational use, according to a Monmouth University Poll released Monday.

Just 32 percent are opposed. The tally represents a slight uptick in support from a Monmouth Poll last year that reported 59 percent support.

Five years ago, a Monmouth Poll recorded a nearly even split, with 48 percent in support and 47 percent against.

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The new survey shows a huge uptick in legal weed support among all age groups. A majority of all age groups now support New Jersey marijuana legalization.

Among those 18 to 34 years old, support stands at 81 percent, a 12-point jump over the last Monmouth Poll. Support is at 53 percent for those 55 and older, a 4-point increase.

Support dropped among those voters 35 to 54 years old, from 62 percent to 56 percent.

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Marijuana legalization also saw gains among political affiliations, with about 72 percent of Democrats, 47 percent of Republicans and 61 percent of independents in favor.

“We find widespread public support for legalizing marijuana, but the devil is in the details," Monmouth University Polling Institute Director Patrick Murray said. "A question mark for some New Jerseyans is whether the state can set up an adequate regulatory system."

But while marijuana legalization has widespread support, it's a little softer on the proposed dispensary system, which would allow users to purchase legal weed from state-licensed dispensaries.

Support for such a system has exactly 50 percent support, an increase of 14 points since 2014. About 34 percent are against it, a drop of 11 points.

About 17 percent of voters are unsure about legal weed dispensaries.

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The reasoning among those who support marijuana legalization is varied:

40 percent cite increased tax revenue and economic gains as their key reason for support;

28 percent believe prosecuting marijuana possession and incarcerating people for those crimes wastes resources;

21 percent say that marijuana use isn't harmful, or at least no more so than alcohol;

14 percent cite medicinal benefits of marijuana use;

14 percent say legalizing weed will provide more control over its use;

8 percent believe "there's no way to stop its use anyway so it might as well be made legal";

5 percent list "the fact that other states are already legalizing it" as their key reason for support.

“A major reason for public support of the current proposal is the expectation it will boost tax revenues," Murray said. "The pressure is on, with nearby states also looking into legalization. New Jersey will need to stay ahead of the curve if it wants to maximize the expected economic benefits."

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Registered voters who are opposed to legalizing weed have even more varied reasons for their positions:

28 percent feel marijuana is harmful or addictive;

21 percent believe car crashes will increase as more drivers will get behind the wheel while high;

20 percent think minors will have easier access to marijuana;

12 percent say it's "bad for society" and will lead to increased crime;

9 percent see weed as a "gateway drug";

6 percent believe it will lead to decreased productivity;

6 percent think it will be difficult to regulate;

5 percent believe marijuana legalization is "only being done for the tax revenue";

5 percent feel marijuana should be limited to medical use only;

Even more favorable than legal weed in New Jersey is support for the expungement of marijuana possession charges from criminal records, at 74 percent. Another 18 percent of registered voters oppose it, even if the state legalizes weed.

Mike Davis; @byMikeDavis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com