Survey says: Majority of Granite Staters favor legalization, decriminalization of pot

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Time to legalize and decriminalize?
Time to legalize and decriminalize?

DURHAM, NH – Public opinion has shifted on the issue of legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, according to the lastest WMUR Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.

Three in five New Hampshire adults now favor marijuana legalization and a larger majority favor decriminalization. When asked what they would prefer the legislature to do about marijuana policy, half of New Hampshire residents want it to be legalized and taxed.

Five hundred and thirty-two (532) randomly selected New Hampshire adults were interviewed by landline and cellular telephone between July 7 and July 20, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4.2 percent. Included were four hundred seventy-two (472) likely 2016 general election voters (MSE = +/- 4.5%).

Screen Shot 2015-07-23 at 6.50.25 PMNew Hampshire legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 2013, but bills to legalize marijuana for recreational use have not passed the legislature. However, a majority of Granite Staters support legalizing recreational marijuana in New Hampshire and have for several years. Currently, 60 percent support legalizing marijuana for recreational use (45 percent strongly and 15 percent somewhat); 35 percent oppose (24 percent strongly and 11 percent somewhat); and 5 percent are neutral or unsure. In 2013, there were 48 percent in favor of legalization, and 48 percent against.

Support for recreational marijuana legalization is strongest among liberals (77 percent support), younger adults (72 percent) those who never attend church (67 percent), and Democrats (67 percent). Opposition is strongest among older residents (59 percent oppose), conservatives (54 percent) and regular churchgoers (53 percent).

In the poll of decriminalization, almost three-quarters of Granite Staters surveyed (72 percent) favor decriminalization of marijuana (54 percent strongly, 18 percent somewhat), 23 percent oppose it (16 percent strongly, 7 percent somewhat), 3 percent are neutral and 2 percent are unsure. Support for decriminalization has increased since May.

You can click here to see the full survey results.


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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!