A new poll shows solid support for a state constitutional amendment expanding medical marijuana in the Sunshine State.
St. Pete Polls took a poll for Saint PetersBlog which was released on Tuesday. While 58 percent of voters backed Amendment 2, which would have expanded medical marijuana in Florida, the new polls shows little change for a future proposed amendment on medical marijuana. After Amendment 2 went down in November, supporters, including trial attorney John Morgan, have continued their efforts and are expected to place another medical marijuana amendment on the ballot for 2016. The poll finds 60 percent of voters support the idea while 24 percent oppose it. For a state constitutional amendment to pass, it needs 60 percent support at the ballot.
The poll shows a partisan breakdown over a medical marijuana amendment. Democrats back the idea with 71 percent of them supporting it and only 15 percent opposing it. More than two-thirds of independents — 68 percent — back a medical marijuana amendment while 18 percent oppose it. Republicans are far more divided with 46 percent of them supporting it and 37 percent standing against it.
Most white voters — 60 percent — support a medical marijuana amendment while a quarter — 25 percent — of them oppose it. Black voters also line up behind it with 65 percent of them supporting a medical marijuana amendment while 19 percent stand against it. Hispanics are far more divided with 53 percent supporting an amendment and 26 percent opposing it. Asians are also less enthusiastic with 47 percent backing an amendment and 31 percent against it.
The poll did not show much of a gender gap. Men back any medical marijuana amendment 62 percent to 24 percent. Women are only slightly less enamored of it with 59 percent supporting it and 24 percent against it.
Floridians across most age groups support a medical marijuana amendment though seniors are less likely to support it. Most voters younger than 30 — 64 percent — back it while 24 percent of them are against it. Voters between 30-49 also support the amendment, 61 percent to 22 percent. Voters in their 50s and 60s also back the idea 64 percent to 23 percent. But voters 70 and older start moving against it with barely half — 51 percent — of them supporting a medical marijuana amendment and 29 percent against the idea.
The poll of 4,218 Florida voters was taken from Jan. 30-Feb. 2 and had a margin of error of +/- 1.5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
