At the start of the year, New Yorkers were promised that cannabis legalization was on the agenda for lawmakers in the state and that the issue would be addressed in the early part 2019. Now, six months later we are finding that legislators are continuing to put off efforts to reform cannabis policy for numerous reasons. However, while lawmakers debate on the logistics, it appears that more than half of voters in the state are ready for legal marijuana. The latest poll from Siena College found that 55 percent of voters are in favor or cannabis legalization, while only 40 percent were opposed.
To no surprise, voters under 35 were the most supportive of legalization – with 75 percent in favor and only 23 percent opposed. In comparison. For those age age 55 and older, 54 percent of voters were against legalizing cannabis, with 42 percent in favor. Additionally, 77 percent of those who identified as liberal were in support of legal marijuana, while 53 percent of Republicans were against it.
“There continues to be support for legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. It has strong support from Democrats and independents, while Republicans oppose it, albeit narrowly, 53-40%,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.