Hamden, CT: Fifty-two percent of Colorado voters believe that legalizing cannabis has been "good" for the state and 54 percent say they are supportive of the new laws regulating the plant’s retail production and sale, according to the results of a Quinnipiac University poll released this week.
Fifty-five percent of Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 in November 2012, which allows for the personal possession and cultivation of cannabis by those age 21 and older. Separate provisions in the law allow for the state-licensed commercial production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis-infused products. Retail cannabis sales began on January 1 of this year.
Other results released by the Quinnipiac University poll include:
- 49 percent of voters admit they’ve tried marijuana, but only 15 percent admit using it since it became legal for sale on January 1;
- Driving has not become more dangerous because of legalized marijuana, voters say 54 – 39 percent;
- Legalized marijuana will save the state and taxpayers a significant amount of money, voters say 53 – 41 percent;
- Legalized marijuana will have a positive impact on the state’s criminal justice system, voters say 50 – 40 percent;
- Legalized marijuana "increases personal freedoms in a positive way," voters say 53 – 44 percent;
- Legalized marijuana has not "eroded the moral fiber" of people in Colorado, voters say 67 – 30 percent.
A strong majority of Democrats (69 percent) and Independents (56 percent), but not Republicans (28 percent) said that marijuana legalization has been good for the state.
The Quinnipiac poll possesses a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, or Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director, at (202) 483-5500.