Voters Support the U.S. Government Passing N.Y. Equitable Marijuana Policy Measures
By Tenneth Fairclough II
In March 2021, New York passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. Not only did it legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana in the state, it also included two important equitable policy measures: 1) it mandated that the first 100-200 dispensary licenses be reserved for individuals and communities affected by cannabis prohibition, and 2) it stipulated that 40 percent of the marijuana revenue collected by the state will be diverted to a community grant fund that allows local governments and nonprofits to apply for funding for community-based initiative programs. The first policy measure enabled Housing Works — a local, minority-controlled nonprofit that serves people with HIV and AIDS, as well as homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals — to open New York's first dispensary in late December of last year.
A Data for Progress survey of 1,228 likely voters in December 2022 examined whether voters support the U.S. government legalizing the adult use of recreational marijuana. The survey also gauged voter support for the U.S. government passing both of the equitable policy measures in New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. We find that voters overwhelmingly support the legalization of recreational marijuana by the U.S. government. We also find support among voters for the U.S. government to pass both policy measures if it were to legalize recreational marijuana.
Voters Support the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana by the U.S. Government
First, we examined voter support for the legalization of recreational marijuana by the U.S. government. We first informed voters of what the adult use of recreational marijuana entails, and then asked whether they support or oppose the federal government legalizing it. We find that voters support the federal legalization of recreational marijuana by a +35-point margin. Across partisanship, we find that 75 percent of Democrats support the policy measure, while Independents (+40-point margin) and Republicans (+7-point margin) are also in support.
Voters Support Both N.Y. Equitable Policy Measures Being Passed by the U.S. Government
Next, we tested the support of both equitable policy measures among voters. We showed half of the respondents the policy measure about licenses and the other half the policy measure about the community grant fund. We then asked if voters support the U.S. government passing the policy measure that was shown.
We first informed voters who saw the license policy measure that it mandates that the first 100-200 licenses for opening dispensaries will be reserved for individuals and communities affected by cannabis prohibition. We find that if the U.S. government were to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana, voters support this policy measure being passed by a +23-point margin. Democrats and Independents support its passage by a +47-point margin and a +31-point margin, respectively. However, Republicans oppose this policy measure being passed by a -9-point margin.
For respondents who were shown the community grant fund policy measure, we informed them that this measure diverts 40 percent of marijuana revenue collected to a community grant fund that can help fund community-based initiative programs. If the U.S. government were to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana, voters support this policy measure being passed by a +37-point margin. In contrast to the license policy measure, we find that Republicans support this policy measure, by a +10-point margin. We also find consistent support for this policy measure among Democrats (76 percent) and Independents (70 percent).
Conclusion
Our poll shows that voters are ready for the U.S. government to finally legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana. It also shows that when the U.S. government does legalize recreational marijuana, voters support passing equitable policies with it that aid minority communities, including reserving dispensary licenses for individuals affected by cannabis prohibition and diverting portions of marijuana revenue to community grant funds. It is time for the U.S. government to right its previous wrongs from the failed “War on Drugs” and legalize recreational marijuana while giving back to those communities who were heavily affected.
Tenneth Fairclough II (@tenten_wins) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.