Clip Information and Download: FLV File - For Website (1920x1080 / 42.3MB) Original .MP4 File - For Broadcast (1920x1080 / 326.5MB)
American voters favor the legalization of marijuana, 51 - 44 percent, with a substantial gender and age gap, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters today are divided 48 - 46 percent on the issue of same-sex marriage, reversing the 55 - 36 percent opposition to same-sex marriage in a July, 2008, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. White Catholics support it 49 - 43 percent. Climate change did not cause Superstorm Sandy, voters say 53 - 37 percent. On another issue, voters say 47 - 41 percent that David Petraeus was right to resign as director of the Central Intelligence Agency after admitting to an extramarital affair. On the controversy over the killing of the U.S/ ambassador to Libya, 47 percent of voters believe the Obama administration shared the facts with the American people as they became available while 41 percent think the administration deliberately misled the public. \"With the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes legal in about 20 states, and Washington and Colorado voting this November to legalize the drug for recreational use, American voters seem to have a more favorable opinion about this once-dreaded drug,\" said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. \"There are large differences on this question among the American people. \"Men support legalization 59 - 36 percent, but women are opposed 52 - 44 percent. The racial split evident throughout American politics on many matters is barely noticeable on this question with 50 percent of white voters and 57 percent of black voters backing legalization.\" \"Not surprisingly, voters 18 to 29 years old support legalization 67 - 29 percent while voters over age 65 are opposed 56 - 35 percent,\" Brown added. \"Voters 30 to 44 years old like the idea 58 - 39 percent, while voters 45 to 64 years old are divided 48 - 47 percent.\" \"This is the first time Quinnipiac University asked this question in its national poll so there is no comparison from earlier years. It seems likely, however, that given the better than 2-1 majority among younger voters, legalization is just a matter of time.\" On same-sex marriage, the biggest change over the past four years has been among men. In 2008, they oppose gay marriage 61 - 31 percent. Now they oppose it 50 - 43 percent, a 23- point shift over the past four years. Women, who had opposed it 51 - 40 percent in 2008, now back it 52 - 42 percent, a shift of 21 points. White Protestants are opposed 63 - 32 percent. \"It seems pretty clear that attitudes toward same-sex marriage in American society are changing rapidly. While the country remains split on the issue, supporters have come pretty far in the last four years,\" said Brown. \"Since voters 18 to 29 years old support same-sex marriage 63 - 35 percent, once again we see it's just a matter of time.\" On whether climate change caused Superstorm Sandy, there are also wide splits in the country. Only 14 percent of Republicans, but 37 percent of independent voters and 55 percent of Democrats think climate change caused the storm. Men say no 57 - 35 percent, while women say no 49 - 39 percent. American voters support 70 - 26 percent Obama's \"Dream\" policy to allow young immigrants to stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation. Illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship, 57 percent of voters say, while 11 percent say they should be allowed to stay with no path to citizenship and 26 percent say they should be deported. From November 28 - December 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,949 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter."}
Skip to Content
American Voters Back Legalized Marijuana,
Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds;
Voters Split On Gay Marriage, But Catholics Back It