Recent poll numbers released this week showed growing support for marijuana reform in Louisiana.Public Policy Polling conducted the poll Sept. 22-23 that found a majority of Louisiana voters oppose long sentences or marijuana possession. Their results were distributed Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana."Louisiana residents don't want to waste their money criminalizing people for minor infractions like marijuana possession," ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman said. "It's clear that public opinion favors significant change to our laws on marijuana possession, which currently are among the harshest in the nation."Check Out: Louisiana Survey Results on Marijuana ReformAccording to the numbers by PPP, 78 percent of Louisiana residents oppose sentences of longer than six months for marijuana possession. Seventy-one percent oppose life sentences, even for people with prior felonies.SEE ALSO: State-by-state look at marijuana lawsAdditionally, two-thirds of the people polled acknowledge knowing someone who has been in possession of marijuana. This showed that marijuana possession is "common" and "unremarkable" in today's world."The ACLU of Louisiana has backed legislation seeking significant reform of our marijuana laws during the past two legislative sessions," the group said. "This poll confirms what we already knew: Louisiana voters are ready to change our outdated and overly harsh marijuana sentencing laws."PPP conducted the poll by surveying a "representative sampling" of Louisiana registered votes to update information on medical marijuana views and reform laws, which found the these results:- 68 percent support letting seriously ill patients use medical marijuana- 59 percent oppose jail time for first-time possession charges- 34 percent say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who opposed marijuana reformMore information about the survey can be found by heading to the ACLU's website. You can also find other recent news from the organization. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

Recent poll numbers released this week showed growing support for marijuana reform in Louisiana.

Public Policy Polling conducted the poll Sept. 22-23 that found a majority of Louisiana voters oppose long sentences or marijuana possession. Their results were distributed Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana.


"Louisiana residents don't want to waste their money criminalizing people for minor infractions like marijuana possession," ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman said. "It's clear that public opinion favors significant change to our laws on marijuana possession, which currently are among the harshest in the nation."

Check Out: Louisiana Survey Results on Marijuana Reform

According to the numbers by PPP, 78 percent of Louisiana residents oppose sentences of longer than six months for marijuana possession. Seventy-one percent oppose life sentences, even for people with prior felonies.

SEE ALSO: State-by-state look at marijuana laws

Additionally, two-thirds of the people polled acknowledge knowing someone who has been in possession of marijuana. This showed that marijuana possession is "common" and "unremarkable" in today's world.

"The ACLU of Louisiana has backed legislation seeking significant reform of our marijuana laws during the past two legislative sessions," the group said. "This poll confirms what we already knew: Louisiana voters are ready to change our outdated and overly harsh marijuana sentencing laws."

PPP conducted the poll by surveying a "representative sampling" of Louisiana registered votes to update information on medical marijuana views and reform laws, which found the these results:

- 68 percent support letting seriously ill patients use medical marijuana

- 59 percent oppose jail time for first-time possession charges

- 34 percent say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who opposed marijuana reform

More information about the survey can be found by heading to the ACLU's website. You can also find other recent news from the organization.

Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!