Nearly two-thirds of D.C. voters support legalizing the drug. Poll: D.C. wants pot decriminalized

Three-quarters of D.C. voters support decriminalizing marijuana and nearly two-thirds support fully legalizing the drug, according to poll released Wednesday by legalization advocates.

The Public Policy Polling survey found 63 percent of District residents would back legalizing marijuana by giving it the same legal treatment of alcohol, similar to what passed in Colorado and Washington state last November. Only 30 percent would oppose such a proposal. Support for decriminalizing the drug and making possession punishable by only a fine of up to $100 was higher, at 75 percent.


Majorities also supported allowing D.C. residents to own up to three marijuana plants for personal use without the threat of jail time and a maximum fine of $300 and changing the city’s existing medical marijuana laws to allow doctors to be prescribe the drug for any affliction. The law currently limits the prescriptions to cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis patients.

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Mason Tvert, the communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, told POLITICO the group and others were considering putting legalization or decriminalization on the ballot in 2014.

“It’s clear that voters in the District are looking for a new approach to the marijuana policy and we are committed to bringing that about.”

Due to D.C.’s relationship with the federal government, any move to legalize pot in the nation’s capital would almost certainly generate congressional action. In 1998, D.C. voters chose to legalize medical marijuana as part of a referendum, but Congress blocked the law. In 2010, the D.C. Council successfully legalized medical pot.

The survey of 1,621 D.C. residents was paid for by Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. It was conducted April 10 and April 11 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.