Massachusetts has been in the news a lot lately for marijuana policy. There is a campaign working very hard in Massachusetts to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. Opponents have been very vocal, especially lately, in their opposition to the campaign. If Massachusetts legalized in 2016, it would become a hotbed for cannabis because of where it is geographically located. A poll was released yesterday which found very strong support for such a public policy change. Per MassLive:
Massachusetts voters today strongly support a 2016 ballot question to legalize recreational marijuana, according to a poll released Thursday by the Western New England University Polling Institute.
On the marijuana question, the poll found that 57 percent of respondents favor legalizing recreational marijuana for adults, with just 35 percent opposed and 7 percent undecided.
Democratic and independent voters support legalizing marijuana by large margins, while Republicans oppose it. More men than woman support legalization, and the strongest support for legalization comes from young voters. Among voters age 18 to 39, 74 percent back legalizing marijuana. Geographically, support for marijuana legalization was strongest in Western Massachusetts and Greater Boston, which are also regions that are heavily Democratic.
Massachusetts is one of a handful of states in the Northeastern part of the country that are very close to legalizing marijuana. Some are doing it via initiative, some are trying to achieve legalization via legislative action. Because the states are so close together in that part of the country, and the population is so large, legalizing marijuana in the area (even one state) would have a huge impact. Some efforts are running up against more roadblocks than others, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
