Pew poll: Americans support legal marijuana; ASAPAC donates $10,000 to oppose medical marijuana in Arkansas

A majority of Americans say marijuana should be legal and a large majority of younger Americans do, according to a Pew Research Center poll released Oct. 12.

Asked, “Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?” 57% of respondents said yes while 37% said no. The survey of 1,201 adults was conducted Aug. 23 -Sept. 2.

While the Pew survey showed younger generations overwhelmingly support legalization (71% among Millennials), support is growing in older demographics.

“Support for marijuana legalization has also increased among members of Generation X and Baby Boomers (ages 36-51 and 52-70 in 2016, respectively). More than half of Gen Xers (57%) support legalization, a considerable jump from just 21% in 1990. A majority of Boomers (56%) also support legalization, up from just 17% in 1990,” noted the Pew report.

Pew’s numbers represent a long-term trend in favor of legalization. In 2006, those numbers were reversed: 60% said it should be illegal while 32% said it should be legal. In 1969, 84% of Americans said marijuana should be illegal, while only 12% favored legalization. In the late 1970s, the numbers narrowed to 66-30 and then widened to 81-16 in the late 1980s.

Twenty-five states have legalized marijuana in some form, mostly for medical use, while four states and Washington, D.C. have legalized it for recreational use. It remains illegal under federal law.

Other breakdowns include:
• Men (60%) are more likely than women (55%) to support legalization;
• Whites and African-Americans equally support legalization (59%) while a higher percentage of Hispanics oppose it (46% legal, 49% illegal);
• Those with more education are more likely to support legalization. Majorities of post-graduate degree holders (60%), college graduates (59%) and those with some college (63%) support legalization. Among those with a high school diploma or less, 53% support legalization; and
• Majorities of Democrats (66%) and independents (63%) favor legalization. A majority of Republicans (55%) oppose it.

THE ARKANSAS MARIJUANA BALLOT ITEMS
A poll released Sept. 25 by Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College, in which voters were read a description of the proposals, found higher support for the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment (49-43%) than for the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act (36-53%).

The two would legalize marijuana for medical use and list medical conditions where it would qualify. They differ in a number of ways. The act lists more conditions. It would have the force of law, while the amendment would be embedded in the Constitution, a higher legal standard. The amendment would distribute marijuana through for-profit dispensaries, while the act’s dispensaries would be nonprofits. The act would allow individuals living more than 20 miles from a dispensary to grow their own plants.

If both are passed, the one with the most votes becomes law.

The survey’s release comes less than a month before Arkansans go to the polls to consider two initiatives that would legalize marijuana for medicinal use: the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment and the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act.

On Thursday, Arkansans Against Legalized Marijuana reported raising $47,200 during the month of September. Donors included:
• ASAPAC, Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s political action committee, which donated $10,000;
• The Arkansas Farm Bureau Association, which donated $10,000;
• Stephens Investment Holdings, which donated $10,000;
• Arkansas Heart Hospital, which donated $10,000;
• Arkansas Hospital Association, which donated $10,000; and
• Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association, which donated $1,000.

Also on Thursday, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit seeking to remove the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment from the ballot. Opponents argued that the measure’s ballot title is misleading. The Court earlier rejected a lawsuit regarding the ballot title of the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act. Another suit regarding the act’s signature collection process is pending. Final briefs were due Thursday.