Florida will vote on a 2014 ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana. Fla. poll: Most back legal marijuana

A majority of Florida voters support legalization of recreational marijuana, a new poll says.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Monday, 55 percent of Florida voters back legal possession of small amounts of recreational pot, compared with 41 percent who oppose it.


The results show a split along generational lines, something also reflected in national numbers. Florida voters under 30 are the most supportive of legalization, with 72 percent favoring legalization of small amounts of recreational marijuana and 25 percent opposing. Fifty-nine percent of Floridian voters 65 and older oppose legalization, while 36 support it.

( Also on POLITICO: NYT editor: Pot ban 'unacceptable')

The survey is another positive measure for the legalization movement, which has had some recent momentum. A Gallup poll last October reported that 58 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization, including two-thirds of adults under 30. After passing legalization by 2012 ballot measures, Colorado and Washington this year became the first two states to implement a statewide legal cannabis trade. Alaska and Oregon will both vote on legalization ballot measures in November.

The poll also comes just days after The New York Times editorial board announced its support for the end of the federal prohibition on marijuana.

Florida will vote on a 2014 ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana, and Monday’s survey suggests extremely strong support for medical use in the state. Eighty-eight percent of Florida voters support legalizing medical marijuana, compared with just 10 percent who oppose it. And 71 percent of the state’s voters said they would support having a medical marijuana dispensary in the town they live.

( Also on POLITICO: Poll: Most say keep pot use private)

The survey was conducted July 17-21 with 1,251 registered Florida voters. The margin for error is plus or minus 2.8 points.

Follow @politico

This article tagged under: Florida

Polls