More New Jerseyans Are In Favor Of Legalizing Marijuana, Study Says

A new study is suggesting that New Jerseyans’ minds may be changing about legalizing marijuana.

Fairleigh Dickinson University cited a changing public perception about cannabis in their recent study, “Support for Marijuana Legalization Reaches New High.”

According to researchers:

“Opinion is divided in the Garden State over the legalization of marijuana, but the overtime trend indicates the public is leaning toward supporting marijuana reform. The most recent statewide survey of registered voters from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind finds 49 percent favor legalization of the substance for personal use, with 46 percent opposed. This represents an eight-point swing since when the question was last asked in January 2014. At that time, 41 percent favored legalization with 52 percent opposed.”

Additional findings included:

• Of those surveyed, 44 percent say they have tried marijuana, comparable to the 42 percent who reported use in January 2014.
• 56 percent of men support legalization, while 41 percent of women are in favor.
• 53 percent of white respondents favored legalization, while only 39 percent of non-whites were in favor.
• Nearly two-thirds of “millennials” favor marijuana legalization in New Jersey.

According to researchers, the study was conducted by landline and cellular telephone from June 15 to 21, among a random statewide sample of 792 self-identified registered voters. Results have a margin of sampling error of +/- 3.7 points, including the design effect.

See the full report online here.

CHRISTIE’S POT PERROGITAVE

The study’s findings come in the recent wake of NJ Governor Chris Christie’s stance against legalized marijuana.

“If you’re getting high in Colorado today, enjoy it ‘til January 2017, because I will enforce the federal laws against marijuana as president of the United States,” the 2015 candidate said during a town hall meeting in New Hampshire on July 28.

• See related article: WATCH: Christie: ‘If You’re Getting High In Colorado, Enjoy It...’

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