Poll Watch: Rasmussen (R) Colorado Survey on Marijuana Legalization

Rasmussen (R) Colorado Poll on Pot Legalization

Should it be a crime for people to smoke marijuana in their own home or the home of a friend?

• Yes, it should 21%
• No, it should not 66%

Would you favor or oppose legalizing marijuana and regulating it in the similar manner to the way alcohol and tobacco cigarettes are regulated today?

• Favor 61%
• Oppose 27%
• Undecided 12%

Suppose that marijuana was legalized and regulated so that it was illegal for people under 18 to buy, that those who drove while under the influence of marijuana received strict penalties, and that smoking marijuana was banned in public places like restaurants. With such regulations in place, would you favor or oppose legalizing and regulating marijuana?

• Favor 62%
  
• Oppose 28%

Suppose that, if marijuana was legalized and regulated, it could be sold only in pharmacies. Drug dealers who sold marijuana on the street would be subject to strict jail sentences. Would that reduce the number of drug dealers in the country?

• Yes, it would 43%
• No, it would not 41%
• Not sure 17%

If marijuana was legalized and regulated, but could be sold only in pharmacies, would you favor or oppose legalizing and regulating marijuana?

• Favor 57%
  
• Oppose 29%
• Not sure 14%

Survey of 500 likely voters was conducted June 6, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Sixty-five percent (65%) of male voters in Colorado favor the legalization and regulation of pot, as do 57% of female voters.

Voters under 40 (69%) show the greatest support for the measure, though 59% of those between the ages of 40 and 64 also are in favor. Those over 65 are evenly divided.

Most Democrats (75%) and voters not affiliated with either major political party (69%) favor legalizing and regulating pot, but just 39% of Republicans agree.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters who favor legalizing the drug if it is only sold in pharmacies support President Obama in the presidential election, while 36% of those voters back Mitt Romney. Romney leads among those who oppose such a measure by a 63% to 29% margin.

Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper was the mayor of Denver when the city approved legalizing possession of marijuana under one ounce, making it the first major U.S. city to do so. Fifty-six percent (56%) approve of the job Hickenlooper has been doing as governor, while 36% disapprove.