April 26, 2018 - U.S. Voters Believe Comey More Than Trump, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Marijuana Hits New High

American voters have a 30 - 41 percent negative opinion of former FBI Director James Comey, but they believe him more than President Donald Trump 54 - 35 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.





Believing President Trump more than Comey are Republicans 76 - 13 percent, white men 47 - 39 percent and white voters with no college degree, 47 - 40 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Every other party, gender, education, age and racial group backs Comey.





American voters believe 53 - 35 percent that the Russian government has compromising information about President Trump. Only Republicans and white men don't believe this. White voters with no college degree are divided 45 - 46 percent.





Trump should not fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, voters say 74 - 13 percent, including 59 - 25 percent among Republicans. But voters are divided in their support of a bill to prevent the president from firing the special counsel with 46 percent supporting the bill and 44 percent opposed. Voters oppose 52 - 42 percent impeaching Trump if he fires Mueller.





American voters say 54 - 31 percent that Mueller is conducting a fair investigation into possible links between the Russian government and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.





Asked differently, 52 percent of voters say the investigation is legitimate and 44 percent say it is a "political witch hunt."





"American voters aren't enamored of former FBI Director James Comey, but they trust, by 19 points, his version of events more than President Donald Trump's version," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





"Americans also seem to be on Independent Counsel Robert Mueller's side in his ongoing look at the president and his people."





American voters disapprove 52 - 25 percent of the job Scott Pruitt is doing as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.





The news media is an important part of democracy, 66 percent of American voters say, while 22 percent say the media is the enemy of the people. Republicans say 51 - 37 percent that the media is the enemy of the people, rather than an important part of democracy, the only group to believe that. Voters trust the media more than President Trump 53 - 37 percent to tell the truth about important issues.





Legalizing Marijuana





American voters support 63 - 33 percent legalizing marijuana in the U.S., the highest level of support ever measured in a Quinnipiac University Poll. The previous high was 61 - 33 percent in an August 3, 2017 survey.





Support for use of medical marijuana is 93 - 5 percent, similar to prior polls.





There is a wide gender gap as 43 percent of American voters say they have used recreational marijuana, including 54 percent of men and 33 percent of women.





Voters oppose 70 - 23 percent enforcement of federal laws against marijuana in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana. In fact, voters support 74 - 20 percent a bill protecting states with legal medical or recreational marijuana from federal prosecution.





Recreational marijuana is legal in the state in which they live, 22 percent of voters say. Increased revenue from taxes on recreational marijuana is a good reason to legalize marijuana, voters say 54 - 42 percent.





American voters say 61 - 31 percent that marijuana is not a "gateway drug."





Legalizing marijuana will make people more likely to use opioids, 20 percent of voters say, while 20 percent say it will be less likely to lead to opioid use and 56 percent say legalized marijuana will not have much impact on opioid use.





"Voters are more favorable to legalizing marijuana than in any previous Quinnipiac University survey, and do not see its use as a gateway to more serious drugs," Brown said.





From April 20 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,193 voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Texas as a public service and for research.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll





Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.







15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Scott Pruitt is handling his job as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 25% 51% 7% 20% 31% 20% 22% 31% Disapprove 52 18 76 61 52 52 58 45 DK/NA 23 31 16 19 16 28 20 24 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 20% 20% 30% 28% 32% 22% 26% 18% 28% Disapprove 60 53 52 48 53 51 52 54 46 DK/NA 20 27 18 24 15 28 22 27 25

26. Is your opinion of James Comey favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 30% 8% 49% 34% 28% 32% 37% 23% Unfavorable 41 67 20 40 46 37 45 46 Hvn't hrd enough 25 23 26 23 24 27 14 29 REFUSED 3 2 5 3 3 4 5 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 21% 28% 38% 32% 27% 33% 30% 38% 16% Unfavorable 30 41 40 49 52 40 45 22 42 Hvn't hrd enough 47 28 17 15 19 23 21 37 37 REFUSED 2 3 5 4 2 5 4 3 5

TREND: Is your opinion of James Comey favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

Fav Unfav HvntHrd REF Apr 26, 2018 30 41 25 3 Jun 29, 2017 38 36 21 4 Jun 07, 2017 30 34 31 4 May 24, 2017 32 33 31 4

27. Who do you trust more to tell you the truth about important issues: President Trump or former FBI Director James Comey?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Trump 35% 76% 6% 27% 41% 29% 33% 47% Comey 54 13 90 59 46 61 57 40 DK/NA 12 10 5 14 13 10 10 13 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Trump 23% 31% 36% 46% 47% 34% 40% 9% 31% Comey 61 55 55 49 39 57 49 81 56 DK/NA 16 14 9 5 14 9 11 10 13

TREND: Who do you trust more to tell you the truth about important issues: President Trump or former FBI Director James Comey?

Trump Comey DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 35 54 12 Dec 12, 2017 32 56 12 Jun 29, 2017 36 56 8

28. Who do you trust more to tell you the truth about important issues: President Trump or the news media?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Trump 37% 81% 4% 31% 42% 32% 36% 51% News media 53 13 90 54 46 59 54 40 DK/NA 10 6 6 14 12 9 11 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Trump 29% 33% 37% 45% 49% 37% 43% 12% 35% News media 56 57 55 47 38 54 47 77 53 DK/NA 15 10 8 7 12 8 10 11 12

TREND: Who do you trust more to tell you the truth about important issues: President Trump or the news media?

News Trump Media DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 37 53 10 Nov 14, 2017 34 54 12 Oct 12, 2017 37 52 11 Aug 23, 2017 36 54 10 Aug 16, 2017 37 55 9 May 25, 2017 34 53 13 May 10, 2017 31 57 12 Mar 07, 2017 37 53 10 Feb 22, 2017 37 52 10

29. Which comes closer to your point of view: the news media is the enemy of the people, or the news media is an important part of democracy?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Enemy of the people 22% 51% 3% 16% 26% 18% 20% 33% Part of democracy 66 37 91 70 62 70 71 56 NEITHER(VOL) 4 4 2 5 4 4 4 4 DK/NA 8 8 4 9 8 7 5 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Enemy of the people 19% 18% 24% 27% 32% 22% 26% 7% 20% Part of democracy 62 72 70 62 57 70 64 78 65 NEITHER(VOL) 6 4 2 4 5 4 4 2 2 DK/NA 13 5 4 7 7 5 6 14 12

30. If the Democratic party wins control of the House of Representatives in 2018, would you like to see them begin the process to impeach President Trump, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Impeach 38% 6% 71% 38% 32% 44% 34% 30% No 55 92 21 54 63 47 59 65 DK/NA 7 2 8 8 5 9 7 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Impeach 48% 40% 40% 31% 22% 41% 32% 69% 46% No 44 55 56 60 74 52 62 23 47 DK/NA 8 5 4 8 4 8 6 8 7

TREND: If the Democratic party wins control of the House of Representatives in 2018, would you like to see them begin the process to impeach President Trump, or not?

Yes/ Impeach No DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 38 55 7 Jan 10, 2018 45 51 5

35. Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 63% 41% 75% 67% 65% 60% 61% 62% No 33 55 21 27 29 36 36 33 DK/NA 4 4 4 5 5 4 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 82% 70% 63% 43% 61% 62% 62% 71% 60% No 16 25 33 52 34 34 34 26 34 DK/NA 3 4 5 5 4 4 4 3 5

TREND: Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States, or not?

Yes No DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 63 33 4 Jan 11, 2018 58 36 6 Aug 03, 2017 61 33 5 Apr 20, 2017 60 34 6 Feb 23, 2017 59 36 5 Jun 06, 2016 54 41 5 Dec 05, 2012 51 44 5

36. Do you support or oppose allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 93% 86% 97% 95% 93% 94% 95% 91% Oppose 5 12 2 4 6 5 4 8 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 96% 93% 95% 91% 92% 94% 93% 95% 95% Oppose 4 5 5 7 7 5 6 5 2 DK/NA - 2 1 2 1 1 1 - 3

TREND: Do you support or oppose allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it?

Sup Opp DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 93 5 1 Jan 11, 2018 91 6 2 Aug 03, 2017 94 4 1 Apr 20, 2017 94 5 1 Feb 23, 2017 93 6 1 Jun 06, 2016 89 9 2

37. Keeping in mind that your answers are confidential, have you ever recreationally used marijuana or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 43% 28% 53% 45% 54% 33% 43% 44% No 54 70 45 52 44 64 55 53 DK/NA 2 2 1 3 2 2 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 63% 50% 46% 25% 53% 36% 44% 53% 49% No 37 49 51 74 45 62 54 45 50 DK/NA - 2 4 1 2 3 2 2 1

38. If you agreed with a political candidate on other issues, but not on the issue of legalizing marijuana, do you think you could still vote for that candidate or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 82% 75% 87% 86% 83% 81% 87% 79% No 13 19 8 11 14 12 8 16 DK/NA 5 6 5 3 3 7 6 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 84% 89% 84% 73% 84% 82% 83% 86% 69% No 13 8 11 19 13 11 12 11 25 DK/NA 3 3 5 8 3 7 5 3 6

39. Would you support or oppose the government enforcing federal laws against marijuana in states that have already legalized medical or recreational marijuana?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 23% 38% 14% 19% 26% 20% 21% 22% Oppose 70 52 83 76 70 70 72 70 DK/NA 7 10 4 6 4 10 8 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 21% 24% 19% 26% 26% 17% 21% 24% 35% Oppose 75 73 76 61 69 73 71 71 61 DK/NA 4 4 5 12 5 9 7 4 4

TREND: Would you support or oppose the government enforcing federal laws against marijuana in states that have already legalized medical or recreational marijuana?

Sup Opp DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 23 70 7 Jan 11, 2018 23 70 7 Aug 03, 2017 20 75 5 Apr 20, 2017 21 73 6 Feb 23, 2017 23 71 6

40. Would you support or oppose a bill protecting states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana from federal prosecution?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 74% 52% 88% 77% 75% 73% 74% 72% Oppose 20 38 10 17 21 19 19 20 DK/NA 6 10 2 6 4 8 7 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 81% 78% 78% 63% 74% 73% 73% 75% 79% Oppose 16 20 18 25 20 19 19 22 16 DK/NA 3 3 4 12 6 9 7 3 6

41. Is recreational marijuana legal in the state in which you live, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Legal 22% 17% 25% 26% 23% 22% 21% 21% No 72 76 69 71 74 71 74 75 DK/NA 5 7 6 3 4 7 5 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Legal 28% 18% 25% 17% 21% 21% 21% 13% 36% No 72 76 71 74 76 73 74 82 52 DK/NA - 6 4 10 3 6 5 5 12

41a. (If yes/legal q41) Do you think that legalizing recreational marijuana has been good for your state or bad for your state?

IF YES/LEGAL Q41 Tot Men Wom Good 48% 57% 40% Bad 25 27 24 DK/NA 26 16 36

42. As you may know, legalizing recreational marijuana allows states to tax the sale of marijuana, which can result in increased revenue. Do you think that increasing revenue in your state is a good reason or a bad reason for recreational marijuana to be legalized?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Good reason 54% 35% 66% 58% 58% 50% 51% 53% Bad reason 42 61 29 38 39 44 46 45 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 2 6 3 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good reason 76% 63% 54% 33% 53% 51% 52% 64% 61% Bad reason 20 34 43 62 44 46 46 29 31 DK/NA 5 3 3 5 2 3 3 7 7

43. Do you consider marijuana a so-called "gateway drug", or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Gateway drug 31% 47% 18% 30% 29% 33% 35% 30% No 61 45 74 62 64 57 58 62 DK/NA 8 8 8 8 7 9 8 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Gateway drug 18% 31% 31% 39% 31% 33% 32% 27% 24% No 78 63 62 48 63 57 60 62 64 DK/NA 5 6 8 13 6 10 8 10 12

44. Do you think that legalizing marijuana will make people more likely to use opioids, less likely to use opioids, or don't you think legalizing marijuana will have much impact either way?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More likely 20% 36% 12% 17% 21% 20% 22% 21% Less likely 20 12 26 20 20 19 20 17 Not much impact 56 47 60 60 54 56 53 57 DK/NA 5 6 2 3 4 5 5 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp More likely 8% 20% 20% 31% 24% 20% 22% 18% 18% Less likely 28 27 16 11 20 17 18 22 23 Not much impact 60 50 61 53 52 57 55 59 54 DK/NA 4 3 3 6 5 6 5 1 4

45. As you may know, Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to oversee the criminal investigation into any links or coordination between President Trump's campaign and the Russian government. Do you think that he is conducting a fair investigation into this matter, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Fair 54% 26% 79% 58% 52% 57% 62% 44% No 31 61 9 26 35 28 28 39 DK/NA 15 13 12 16 13 16 10 17 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Fair 49% 60% 61% 51% 49% 56% 53% 60% 56% No 27 26 32 36 38 29 33 21 31 DK/NA 24 14 7 13 12 15 14 19 13

TREND: As you may know, Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to oversee the criminal investigation into any links or coordination between President Trump's campaign and the Russian government. Do you think that he is conducting a fair investigation into this matter, or not?

Yes/ Fair No DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 54 31 15 Apr 10, 2018 52 32 17 Mar 07, 2018 58 28 14 Feb 06, 2018 56 28 16 Jan 11, 2018 59 26 15 Dec 12, 2017 58 29 13 Nov 15, 2017 60 27 13

46. Do you think President Trump should fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, or don't you think so?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Fire 13% 25% 6% 9% 17% 10% 9% 17% No 74 59 82 82 75 73 83 66 DK/NA 12 16 12 9 8 17 9 17 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Fire 19% 10% 13% 12% 18% 9% 13% 10% 27% No 61 77 79 80 74 75 74 81 57 DK/NA 21 13 8 8 8 16 13 9 16

TREND: Do you think President Trump should fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, or don't you think so?

Yes/ Fire No DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 13 74 12 Apr 10, 2018 13 69 18

47. Would you support or oppose a bill to prevent President Trump from firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 46% 17% 73% 48% 43% 48% 51% 35% Oppose 44 74 17 42 49 39 41 51 DK/NA 11 9 10 10 8 13 8 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 43% 46% 53% 45% 38% 48% 43% 60% 46% Oppose 39 43 42 47 53 39 46 31 43 DK/NA 18 11 6 7 9 13 11 9 11

48. Do you think President Trump should be impeached and removed from office if he fires Special Counsel Robert Mueller, or don't you think so?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Impeached 42% 6% 76% 43% 36% 47% 40% 29% No 52 91 16 51 57 46 54 65 DK/NA 7 3 8 6 7 7 6 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Impeached 43% 42% 48% 37% 27% 41% 35% 77% 48% No 45 51 49 60 68 52 59 13 47 DK/NA 12 7 4 4 5 7 6 10 5

TREND: Do you think President Trump should be impeached and removed from office if he fires Special Counsel Robert Mueller, or don't you think so?

Yes/ Impeach No DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 42 52 7 Feb 06, 2018 46 47 8

49. Do you think that the investigation into any links or coordination between President Trump's 2016 election campaign and the Russian government is a legitimate investigation, or do you think it is a political witch hunt?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Legitimate 52% 14% 88% 53% 48% 56% 58% 39% Political witch hunt 44 82 9 43 49 38 39 56 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 3 6 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Legitimate 60% 55% 56% 43% 41% 56% 49% 69% 49% Political witch hunt 35 40 43 53 55 41 47 24 47 DK/NA 5 5 2 4 4 4 4 7 5

TREND: Do you think that the investigation into any links or coordination between President Trump's 2016 election campaign and the Russian government is a legitimate investigation, or do you think it is a political witch hunt?

Legit- Witch mate Hunt DK/NA Apr 26, 2018 52 44 4 Mar 07, 2018 53 42 5 Feb 06, 2018 50 42 7 Jan 18, 2018 52 43 5

50. Do you believe that the Russian government has compromising information about President Trump, or don't you believe that the Russian government has that kind of information about President Trump?