A majority of voters in the swing states of Florida and Ohio support legalizing marijuana for recreational use while a narrow plurality in Pennsylvania is opposed, according to survey results released Thursday.
There was a sizable gender gap, with more men than women in each state saying the drug should be legalized for recreational purposes, though most people said they would not use it if it were legal, according to the polling from Quinnipiac University.
“If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, then the Red Planet might be the more spacey place. That’s because men are more likely than women to support legalization of marijuana for recreational use,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. “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.”
About nine in 10 voters in each state also said they supported legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.
In Florida, 51 percent of voters said it should be legalized for personal use, while 45 percent said it should not. Men supported it by a 57 percent to 41 percent margin and women were opposed, 49 percent to 46 percent.
Support was 66 percent to 30 percent among voters between the ages of 18 and 34, while voters over the age of 65 were opposed, 56 percent to 39 percent.
“The strong support among Floridians for legalizing medical marijuana may not be enough. 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,” Mr. Brown said.
In Ohio, voters supported legalization for personal use by a 53 percent to 44 percent margin, with men in favor by a 59 percent to 38 percent margin and women divided, with 47 percent in favor and 49 percent opposed.
Support was 70 percent to 25 percent among voters between 18 and 34, while voters over 65 were opposed, 64 percent to 33 percent.
In Pennsylvania, 47 percent were in favor of legalization for personal use, with 49 percent opposed. Men supported it by a 52 percent to 44 percent margin, with women opposed, 53 percent to 43 percent.
Support was 66 percent to 33 percent among voters between 18 and 34, and voters over the age of 65 were opposed, 64 percent to 32 percent.
From Sept. 25 to Oct. 5, Quinnipiac surveyed:
• 1,173 Florida voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
• 1,180 Ohio voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
• 1,049 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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