Medical Marijuana has Overwhelming Support in Florida

A poll released Monday morning from Quinnipiac University found overwhelming support for a proposed state constitutional amendment allowing more medical marijuana use in Florida. The poll shows 88 percent of Florida voters support the legalization of medical marijuana while only 10 percent oppose it, far over the 60 percent threshold needed to pass on the November ballot.

The poll finds voters of all ages support medical marijuana use with voters under 30 offering the most support as 95 percent of them back it and only 5 percent of them oppose it. Voters older than 65 are the most likely to oppose medical marijuana but even they are overwhelmingly in its corner. The poll finds 83 percent of voters older than 65 back medical marijuana while only 13 percent oppose it.

"Forget the stereotypes of stodgy old folks living out their golden years playing canasta and golf," said Peter Brown, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, on Monday. "Almost nine-in-10 Floridians favor legalizing medical marijuana and a small majority says adults should be able to possess small amounts of the drug for recreational purposes.

"Even though a proposal to legalize medical marijuana, on the ballot this November, must meet a 60 percent threshold, these numbers make a strong bet the referendum is likely to pass," said Brown.

The poll of 1,251 Florida registered voters was taken from July 17-21 and had a margin of error +/- 2.8 percent.