Majority in Maryland supports legalization weeks before the vote

Weeks before Maryland voters go to the polls to decide whether to legalize recreational cannabis, a new poll suggests the measure is close to passage.

The Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found that 73% of voters in the state support legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and older, while only 23% said they opposed it. Four percent of voters said they had no opinion.

The results bode well for supporters of Question 4, which would legalize adult-use marijuana in Maryland beginning July 1, 2023 and establish a regulated cannabis market in the state.

Maryland is one of several states where voters will decide on recreational cannabis measures this November. (Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota are the others.)

The Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released Wednesday suggests that Maryland is most likely to join the 19 other states that have legalized adult recreational marijuana use.

“What struck me is the high level of support and the diversity of support. Regardless of whether you look at party, region, or almost all characteristics, you see majorities supporting it,” said Michael Hanmer, the director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, as quoted by the Washington Post . “It’s the trend across the country. People have really changed their views on this issue over time and all are pointing in the direction of more support.”

The Washington Post noted that the poll found the measure “is particularly popular among young voters, with 87 percent of voters under 40 supporting legalization.”

“By far the enthusiasts for legalization are young voters. Almost 9 in 10 voters under the age of 40 said they support cannabis legalization, compared to about 7 in 10 of those aged 40 to 64 and just over half of those aged 65 and over,” the Post reported.

In addition, the poll found that “77 percent of black voters and 70 percent of white voters support the proposal,” which also has “strong support from a broad majority of independents (81 percent) and registered Democrats (78 percent), as well as a narrow” boasts majority of registered Republicans (53 percent).”

The Maryland legislature passed legislation earlier this year to set a referendum on legalizing marijuana.

Question 4 is heavily supported by cannabis giant Trulieve, which has multiple medical marijuana dispensaries in Maryland.

The chair of the “Yes on 4” campaign is Eugene Monroe, a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens and a marijuana advocate.

“Legalizing cannabis would boost Maryland’s economy and create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs while allowing Maryland residents to benefit from vital investments in education, public health and public safety funded by cannabis taxes,” said Monroe officially launched last month as the Question 4 campaign.

The “Yes on 4” campaign is optimistic about what recreational marijuana could mean for Maryland’s economy.

“Legalizing marijuana is expected to generate over $135 million in tax revenue for the state. That number doesn’t include city and county revenue or savings from the millions of dollars Maryland spends each year enforcing marijuana possession laws. The existence of Maryland Question 4 would enable local law enforcement agencies to focus their limited resources on fighting violent crime. Of the 10 counties in the United States with the highest rates of arrests of marijuana owners, three are in Maryland,” according to the campaign website.

This week’s Washington Post-University of Maryland isn’t the first poll to suggest Maryland voters are ready to end cannabis prohibition.

A Goucher College poll released in March found that 62% of Maryland voters support the legalization of recreational cannabis, compared to just 34% opposed.

That poll also found bipartisan support, with 65% of Democrats and Independents and 54% of Republicans saying they support legalization.