May 3, 2018 - New York Voters Back Legalized Marijuana Almost 2-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Support For Assisted Suicide Tops 2-1 PDF format Additional Trend Information Sample and Methodology detail New York State voters support 63 - 32 percent "allowing adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use," the highest level of support in New York, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. Republicans oppose legalized marijuana 56 - 40 percent and voters over 65 years old are divided with 46 percent supporting the measure and 48 percent opposed, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. All other listed party, gender, education, age, racial and regional groups support the measure. New Yorkers support legalizing recreational marijuana 63 - 34 percent if taxes on the sale of marijuana increases revenue for the state. When this revenue is considered, Republicans are opposed 53 - 43 percent. Only 21 percent of New York State voters think legalizing marijuana will make people more likely to use opioids, as 20 percent say it will lead to less opioid use and 54 percent say it will not have much impact. A black person using marijuana is more likely to be arrested than a white person using marijuana, voters say 62 - 31 percent. New York State voters support 63 - 29 percent "allowing doctors to legally prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients end their own lives." The only voters opposed are people who attend religious services weekly, who oppose the measure 61 - 34 percent. "New Yorkers overwhelmingly support doctor-assisted suicide. Almost two-thirds of voters, including 60 percent of older voters, say doctors should be able to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "The 63 percent support for legalizing so-called recreational marijuana is a high water mark in New York. Voters don't see marijuana as a gateway to stronger drugs." More than half of suburban voters, 54 percent, say their children will be forced to move for better economic opportunity. They are part of the 46 percent of all New York State voters, including 40 percent of New York City voters and 49 percent of upstate voters, who think their children will be forced to move. Some 33 percent of New York State voters say they will be forced to move in the next five years for better economic opportunity. That includes 30 percent of upstate voters, 31 percent of New York City voters and 43 percent of suburban voters. Yet a total of 72 percent of New York State voters describe their financial situation as "excellent" or "good." That includes 72 percent of upstate voters, 70 percent of New York City voters and 73 percent of suburban voters. There is a wide difference between upstate and downstate voters as a total of 52 percent of New York State voters say the state's economy is "excellent" or "good." Only 43 percent of upstate voters say "excellent" or "good," compared to 59 percent of New York City voters and 55 percent of suburban voters. Looking at their own local economy: 46 percent of upstate voters say it is "excellent" or "good;" 70 percent of New York City voters say it is "excellent" or "good;" 63 percent of suburban voters say it is "excellent" or "good." All New York State voters say 53 - 35 percent that state government efforts to improve their local economy have not been effective. But voters say 83 - 14 percent that state government can improve their local economy. Feeling optimistic are upstate voters 83 - 15 percent, New York City voters 87 - 10 percent and suburban voters 76 - 20 percent. "New Yorkers are optimistic about their current financial situation, but pessimistic about the long term," Brown said. From April 26 - May 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,076 New York State voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Texas as a public service and for research. Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll. 22. Would you describe the state of New York State's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Excellent 4% 3% 5% 4% 6% 2% 3% 4% Good 48 36 60 45 52 45 57 42 Not so good 31 35 28 31 25 36 27 30 Poor 14 23 5 18 14 15 11 21 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Excellent 9% 2% 3% 3% 6% 2% 4% 5% Good 55 50 43 47 54 47 50 46 Not so good 26 32 35 29 22 34 28 36 Poor 7 15 18 17 16 15 15 12 DK/NA 3 1 1 4 2 2 2 2 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Excellent 3% 5% 3% Good 40 54 52 Not so good 32 30 31 Poor 22 8 13 DK/NA 3 3 1 23. Would you describe the state of your local area's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Excellent 7% 6% 9% 6% 10% 4% 8% 8% Good 53 47 58 50 52 54 60 44 Not so good 26 27 24 26 26 26 22 26 Poor 14 19 9 17 13 15 9 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Excellent 13% 6% 5% 6% 13% 4% 8% 4% Good 57 53 53 48 50 55 53 52 Not so good 18 25 27 29 24 24 24 29 Poor 13 15 15 15 13 16 14 14 DK/NA - - - 2 - 1 1 1 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Excellent 6% 8% 6% Good 40 62 57 Not so good 31 23 22 Poor 23 7 13 DK/NA - 1 1 24. Would you describe your financial situation these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Excellent 11% 17% 10% 10% 14% 7% 13% 11% Good 61 59 62 61 62 60 70 55 Not so good 18 16 20 18 17 20 13 22 Poor 9 7 7 11 7 11 3 11 DK/NA 1 1 - - - 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Excellent 16% 7% 8% 13% 15% 10% 12% 8% Good 59 65 63 59 63 63 63 57 Not so good 13 18 21 19 16 18 17 20 Poor 11 9 7 9 5 8 7 13 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Excellent 9% 10% 13% Good 63 60 60 Not so good 19 20 15 Poor 9 8 11 DK/NA 1 1 1 25. Do you believe that the state government's efforts to improve your local area's economy have been effective, or not? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Effective 35% 28% 44% 30% 34% 35% 32% 33% No 53 61 43 57 55 50 55 53 DK/NA 13 11 12 12 11 14 13 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Effective 43% 36% 30% 34% 31% 34% 32% 41% No 44 55 58 52 58 50 54 50 DK/NA 13 9 13 14 11 16 14 9 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes/Effective 34% 39% 28% No 56 46 59 DK/NA 10 15 12 26. Do you believe that the state government can improve your local area's economy, or not? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Can improve 83% 78% 88% 81% 81% 85% 83% 82% No 14 19 9 15 17 11 14 14 DK/NA 3 3 2 4 2 4 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Can improve 87% 87% 81% 80% 79% 85% 82% 86% No 12 11 17 14 19 10 14 13 DK/NA 1 2 2 7 2 5 3 2 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes/Can improve 83% 87% 76% No 15 10 20 DK/NA 2 3 5 27. Do you think that you will be forced to move in the next five years for better economic opportunity, or not? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Forced to move 33% 36% 25% 43% 32% 34% 24% 33% No 64 60 74 54 65 63 74 62 DK/NA 3 4 2 2 3 3 2 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Forced to move 49% 34% 35% 18% 28% 27% 28% 43% No 48 66 62 77 68 69 69 56 DK/NA 3 - 3 5 3 4 4 1 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes/Forced to move 30% 31% 43% No 66 67 54 DK/NA 4 2 3 28. Do you think that your children will be forced to move for better economic opportunity in the future, or not? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Forced to move 46% 53% 37% 53% 44% 49% 46% 45% No 38 31 46 34 39 37 38 37 DK/NA 16 16 17 12 18 14 15 18 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Forced to move 45% 51% 53% 35% 44% 48% 46% 47% No 39 36 31 49 38 38 38 39 DK/NA 17 13 16 16 18 14 16 14 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes/Forced to move 49% 40% 54% No 36 43 34 DK/NA 15 18 13 29. Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 63% 40% 71% 66% 66% 59% 68% 53% Oppose 32 56 24 29 29 35 28 42 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 5 6 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Support 77% 68% 66% 46% 65% 58% 61% 65% Oppose 16 26 31 48 30 39 34 27 DK/NA 6 5 3 6 5 4 4 7 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Support 60% 66% 61% Oppose 34 28 36 DK/NA 6 6 4 30. If you agreed with a political candidate on other issues, but not on the issue of legalizing marijuana, do you think you could still vote for that candidate or not? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 75% 66% 79% 78% 77% 74% 83% 70% No 20 27 17 18 19 20 14 25 DK/NA 5 8 4 4 4 6 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes 79% 78% 78% 68% 81% 73% 77% 73% No 20 17 17 26 15 22 19 22 DK/NA 1 5 5 6 4 5 4 6 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes 78% 74% 75% No 16 22 21 DK/NA 6 4 5 31. As you may know, legalizing recreational marijuana allows states to tax the sale of marijuana, which can result in increased revenue. Would you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana if it increased revenue for New York state? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 63% 43% 75% 61% 66% 60% 69% 54% Oppose 34 53 23 36 31 36 29 43 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 3 4 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Support 73% 72% 64% 50% 66% 59% 62% 67% Oppose 25 24 33 46 31 39 35 30 DK/NA 2 4 2 4 3 2 3 3 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Support 60% 68% 60% Oppose 36 29 37 DK/NA 4 3 3 32. Do you think that legalizing marijuana will make people more likely to use opioids, less likely to use opioids, or don't you think legalizing marijuana will have much impact either way? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More likely 21% 34% 16% 19% 20% 21% 19% 24% Less likely 20 9 23 22 19 21 21 21 Not much impact 54 50 57 55 56 53 55 51 DK/NA 5 6 5 3 5 6 5 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht More likely 14% 18% 22% 25% 19% 23% 21% 20% Less likely 37 20 17 10 20 21 21 19 Not much impact 46 60 56 57 57 51 53 56 DK/NA 3 3 5 8 4 5 5 5 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub More likely 20% 19% 26% Less likely 18 18 25 Not much impact 56 59 44 DK/NA 6 4 5 33. In general, do you think that someone who is black and uses marijuana is more likely to be arrested than someone who is white and uses marijuana, or don't you think so? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/More likely 62% 28% 82% 62% 59% 66% 63% 49% No 31 64 14 31 33 29 31 44 DK/NA 7 8 4 7 8 5 7 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/More likely 64% 72% 59% 57% 56% 58% 57% 74% No 29 22 34 38 37 36 37 20 DK/NA 7 6 7 5 7 6 7 5 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub Yes/More likely 53% 72% 61% No 42 21 30 DK/NA 6 6 9 34. Do you support or oppose allowing doctors to legally prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients end their own lives? WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 63% 51% 69% 67% 69% 58% 73% 64% Oppose 29 41 26 26 25 33 19 29 DK/NA 7 8 5 7 6 9 8 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Support 69% 63% 68% 60% 72% 66% 69% 54% Oppose 25 30 27 32 21 26 24 39 DK/NA 6 7 5 8 7 8 7 7 AREA............. RELIGION.......... ATTEND SRVCS UpStat NYC Sub Prot Cath None Weekly Less Support 63% 63% 64% 54% 55% 87% 34% 70% Oppose 31 29 27 37 38 11 61 23 DK/NA 6 8 8 8 7 2 5 7
