A new poll shows Floridians support medical marijuana options but are far more divided when it comes to legalizing it for personal use, with major divisions between the sexes and age groups.
Quinnipiac University released a poll on Thursday morning which shows a slight majority -- 51 percent -- of Florida voters back legalizing marijuana for personal use, while 45 percent oppose the idea.
There’s a gender gap on the issue as 57 percent of men support personal legalization while 46 percent of women back the idea. Almost a majority -- 49 percent -- of women oppose personal legalization.
The issue also divides voters by age groups. Two thirds -- 66 percent -- of voters 34 and younger back legalizing for personal use while 30 percent of these voters are against the idea. Voters in their late 30s and 40s are more divided, with 52 percent of them supporting legalizing marijuana for recreational use and 44 percent opposing it. Voters in their 50s and early 60s divide along similar lines, with 55 percent of them supporting legalization for personal use and 43 percent against it. Seniors 65 and older are against personal legalization with 56 percent against it and only 39 percent supporting it.
"If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, then the Red Planet might be the more spacey place,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, on Thursday. “That's because men are more likely than women to support legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
"Not surprisingly, support for the change is linked to age, with younger voters more likely to see personal use of pot as a good thing," Brown added.
Only 7 percent of voters say they would definitely use marijuana for personal use if legalized while another 9 percent say they would probably use it. Two thirds -- 65 percent -- of Florida voters say they would not use it and 18 percent say they would probably not use it for recreational use if legalized.
The poll shows 87 percent of Florida voters back medical marijuana while 12 percent are against it. Noting that number, Brown urged some caution as another effort is made to pass a state constitutional amendment expanding medical marijuana in the Sunshine State.
"The strong support among Floridians for legalizing medical marijuana may not be enough,” Brown said. “In 2014, voters expressed overwhelming support for legalization, but at the ballot box they failed to meet the 60 percent threshold required by the state Constitution.”
The poll of 1,173 Florida voters was taken from Sept. 25-Oct. 5 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
