Poll Watch: Newsweek Marijuana Survey

Newsweek Marijuana Survey

As you may know, California's Proposition 19 would legalize marijuana in the state, allowing people age 21 or older to possess and cultivate small amounts for personal use. It would also allow local governments to regulate and tax commercial production, distribution, and sales of marijuana.

Would you support or oppose a similar measure to legalize marijuana IN YOUR STATE?

• Support 45%
• Oppose 52%

Among Democrats

• Support 55%
• Oppose 42%

Among Republicans

• Support 25%
• Oppose 72%

Among Independents

• Support 50%
• Oppose 47%

Age 18-29

• Support 70%
• Oppose 29%

Age 30-49

• Support 51%
• Oppose 47%

Age 50-64

• Support 36%
• Oppose 60%

Age 65+

• Support 20%
• Oppose 77%

Would you support or oppose a similar measure to legalize marijuana NATIONWIDE?

• Support 44%
• Oppose 52%

Among Democrats

• Support 53%
• Oppose 44%

Among Republicans

• Support 24%
• Oppose 73%

Among Independents

• Support 52%
• Oppose 45%

Age 18-29

• Support 69%
• Oppose 29%

Age 30-49

• Support 51%
• Oppose 47%

Age 50-64

• Support 35%
• Oppose 61%

Age 65+

• Support 19%
• Oppose 76%

If you don't support legalizing marijuana generally, do you support legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions – sometimes referred to as “medical marijuana?”

• Support legalization in state or nation 46%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 34%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 16%

Among Democrats

• Support legalization in state or nation 56%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 30%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 11%

Among Republicans

• Support legalization in state or nation 26%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 45%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 23%

Among Independents

• Support legalization in state or nation 53%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 31%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 13%

Age 18-29

• Support legalization in state or nation 72%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 19%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 6%

Age 30-49

• Support legalization in state or nation 53%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 32%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 13%

Age 50-64

• Support legalization in state or nation 37%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 38%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 19%

Age 65+

• Support legalization in state or nation 20%
• Support legalization to treat certain medical conditions 49%
• No, do not support legalizing marijuana or legalizing it to treat certain medical conditions 24%

If marijuana were legalized in your state, would you support or oppose taxation of marijuana sales?

• Support 73%
• Oppose 23%

If marijuana were legalized in your state, do you think crime would increase or decrease – or stay about the same?

• Increase 33%
• Decrease 24%
• Stay the same 38%

If marijuana becomes legal in California, would you consider taking a “marijuana tourism” trip to California, or not?

Among Non-California Residents

• Yes, would 15%
• No, would not 83%

As you may know, Attorney General Eric Holder has said that even if California votes to legalize recreational marijuana use on November 2nd, he plans to “vigorously enforce” federal drug laws in the state.

Would you support or oppose the federal government's right to prosecute marijuana users in California, even if their use is allowed under California law?

• Support 31%
• Oppose 57%

Last month, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that will downgrade the possession of one ounce of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction similar to a traffic ticket – punishable by a simple $100 fine and no arrest record.

Would you support or oppose a measure like this in your state, even if marijuana remains illegal?

• Support 55%
• Oppose 41%

In general, do you think government-funded health care should cover treatment for marijuana dependence, or not?

• Yes, should 36%
• No, should not 58%

Finally, keeping in mind that your answers in this survey are confidential... Have you, yourself, ever tried marijuana?

• Yes, have 43%
• No, have not 55%

Age 18-29

• Yes, have 50%
• No, have not 50%

Age 30-49

• Yes, have 56%
• No, have not 43%

Age 50-64

• Yes, have 40%
• No, have not 57%

Age 65+

• Yes, have 15%
• No, have not 85%

How often do you smoke marijuana these days...frequently, occasionally, rarely or never?

• Frequently 6%
• Occasionally 6%
• Rarely 5%
• Never/Never tried 81%

Age 18-29

• Frequently 15%
• Occasionally 10%
• Rarely 8%
• Never/Never tried 67%

Age 30-49

• Frequently 9%
• Occasionally 7%
• Rarely 7%
• Never/Never tried 76%

Age 50-64

• Frequently 2%
• Occasionally 5%
• Rarely 2%
• Never/Never tried 88%

Age 65+

• Frequently 0%
• Occasionally 0%
• Rarely 2%
• Never/Never tried 97%

Survey of 1,005 adults, including 848 registered voters and 773 likely voters, was conducted October 20-21, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3.8 percentage points among all adults; +/- 4.2 percentage points among registered voters; +/- 4.3 percentage points among likely voters.