February 17, 2014 - New York Voters Back Medical Marijuana 10-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Strong Support For Recreational Marijuana Also PDF format New York State voters support 88 - 9 percent the legalization of medical marijuana, with overwhelming support from every group, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters also support 57 - 39 percent the legalization of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. There is a gender gap and a larger generation gap on the question of non-medical marijuana. Support is 63 - 33 percent among men and 51 - 44 percent among women. Support is 83 - 14 percent among voters 18 to 29 years old, with voters over 65 years old opposed 57 - 38 percent. Support is 65 - 32 percent among Democrats and 58 - 37 percent among independent voters, with Republicans opposed 55 - 39 percent. New York State voters are divided on their own use of marijuana, as 46 percent say they've tried it and 51 percent deny they have. Women deny trying marijuana 58 - 39 percent, while men admit trying it 54 - 43 percent. Voters 18 to 29 percent admit lighting up 55 - 42 percent while voters over 65 years old deny it 69 - 28 percent. Colorado's legalization of recreational marijuana has been good for the state's image, 37 percent of New York State voters say, while 41 percent say it's been bad for Colorado's image. "Medical marijuana is a no-brainer for New York State voters, and they also would follow Colorado in legalizing marijuana for fun. But a slim plurality don't think legalization has been good for Colorado's reputation," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Use of marijuana does not lead to use of other drugs, New York State voters say 52 - 41 percent. Men say no 57 - 36 percent, while women are divided with 46 percent saying yes and 47 percent saying no. Marijuana is equally as dangerous as alcohol, 45 percent of voters say, while 36 percent say it's less dangerous than alcohol and 13 percent say more dangerous. But 63 percent of New York State voters say they would be "very uncomfortable" riding in a car driven by someone who has consumed a moderate amount of marijuana, while 19 percent would be "somewhat uncomfortable." "A narrow majority doubt that legalizing pot will lead to harder drug use. On that favorite debate topic between the pros and antis - which is worse, booze or pot - about half say they're equal. About a third say alcohol is worse and only 13 percent say marijuana is worse," Carroll said. From February 6 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,488 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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, Iowa, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling marijuana policy? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Approve 41% 24% 51% 43% 42% 39% 54% 44% 37% 31% Disapprove 31 44 23 30 35 28 18 31 32 40 DK/NA 28 33 26 27 23 33 28 24 30 30 39. Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Support 57% 39% 65% 58% 63% 51% 83% 61% 55% 38% Oppose 39 55 32 37 33 44 14 35 42 57 DK/NA 4 6 3 5 3 5 3 4 3 5 40. Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New York State to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Support 88% 82% 93% 88% 86% 90% 93% 88% 89% 86% Oppose 9 14 5 10 10 8 5 10 9 10 DK/NA 3 4 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 4 41. Do you think the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in Colorado has been good or bad for Colorado's national image? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Good 37% 21% 45% 37% 43% 32% 59% 43% 33% 21% Bad 41 57 33 42 37 44 19 37 44 55 DK/NA 22 22 22 21 20 24 23 19 23 24 42. Keeping in mind that all of your answers in this survey are confidential, have you, yourself ever happened to try marijuana? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Yes 46% 37% 49% 49% 54% 39% 55% 48% 53% 28% No 51 62 47 48 43 58 42 49 43 69 DK/NA 3 1 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 2 43. Do you think marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, less dangerous than alcohol, or about equally as dangerous as alcohol? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ More 13% 22% 7% 15% 13% 12% 5% 11% 14% 19% Less 36 22 45 35 44 30 70 40 29 21 Equally 45 49 42 47 38 52 23 46 52 49 NEITHR DANGEROUS(VOL) 1 - 1 - - 1 2 - 1 - DK/NA 5 6 4 3 5 6 - 3 4 11 44. Do you think that for most people, the use of marijuana leads to the use of other drugs, or don't you think so? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Yes 41% 48% 38% 41% 36% 46% 28% 39% 38% 56% No 52 42 56 52 57 47 68 57 54 30 DK/NA 7 10 6 7 7 7 4 4 8 13 45. How comfortable would you be as a passenger in a car, with a driver who has smoked or consumed moderate amounts of marijuana; very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable, or very uncomfortable? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Very comfortable 6% 4% 8% 7% 9% 5% 19% 6% 4% 3% Smwht comfortable 10 9 10 11 13 8 18 14 7 5 Smwht uncomfortable 19 17 20 17 22 16 26 18 21 14 Very uncomfortable 63 69 61 64 54 70 36 61 66 76 DK/NA 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 Demographic Summary
