A new poll shows considerable support for vague use medical marijuana in Florida, just as had been the case for Amendment 2 which failed at the ballot box last year.
Quinnipiac University released a poll on Monday morning showing 84 percent of Florida voters support the idea that patients should legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it while 14 percent oppose the idea.
When asked if they support legalization of medical marijuana for recreational use, Florida voters offer far less support, with 55 percent backing the idea while 42 percent oppose it.
Despite that, most Floridians say they would not try marijuana if it was legalized for recreational use. Only 17 percent say they "definitely" or "probably" would use marijuana if it was legalized for recreational use and 81 percent of Florida voters insist they "probably" or "definitely" would not use it.
Quinnipiac also found similar support for both recreational and medical marijuana in Ohio and Pennsylvania which, like Florida, are expected to be crucial swing states in the 2016 presidential election.
Despite the support for medical and recreational marijuana in all three states, Peter Brown, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll, noted the fate of Amendment 2, a proposal to expand medical marijuana use in Florida.
Last year, Amendment 2 garnered 58 percent support on the November ballot, just under the 60 percent threshold to add it to the Florida Constitution. Supporters of medical marijuana are expected to fight for a similar amendment in the 2016 elections. Polls showed support for vague description of medical marijuana use but it dropped off considerably during the campaign.
"Bare majorities in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania say they support allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, and more than eight in 10 say it should be available for medical uses," Brown said on Monday. "But it is worth considering the lesson of Florida in 2014, when a referendum on medical marijuana fell short of the 60 percent needed for passage."
The poll of 1,087 Florida voters was taken from March 17-28 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
