AP-CNBC Marijuana Poll--Complete Results & Analysis
c. It would mostly improve the health of people, mostly harm the health of the people, or have no effect on the health of people?
d. It would lead more people to use more serious drugs such as heroin and cocaine, lead fewer people to use more serious drugs, or have no effect on how many people use more serious drugs?
e. It would create jobs in your community, cost jobs in your community, or have no effect on the number of jobs in your community?
Few people think that the legalization of marijuana would have negative effects on crime or the economy. Almost half think that legalization would have negative health effects, only four in 10 say it would lead people to use more serious drugs. Only a quarter of Americans think legalizing marijuana would create jobs in their community.
Impact on crime:
- Women (41 percent) are likelier than men (25 percent) to say legalization will worsen crime.
- Those under age 30 (52 percent) are likeliest to think it will reduce crime, while those 65+ (51 percent) are likeliest to think it will increase crime.
- There are no stark differences by race, region or type of area.
- Democrats consider it likelier to reduce crime by 38 percent to 29 percent, while Republicans see it as likelier to increase crime by a similar 39 percent to 26 percent margin.
Impact on economy:
- People under age 30 likeliest to expect improvement (58 percent), those 65+ likeliest to foresee worsening (33 percent).
- Democrats and independents likelier that Republicans to expect improvement, Republicans likeliest to expect worsening.
Impact on health:
- Republicans expect it to do more harm than good, 55 percent to 8 percent.
- Democrats agree but by lesser margin, 37 percent to 18 percent.
- Just 31 percent of those under age 30 expect harm, a lower percentage than other age groups.
Impact on use of harder drugs:
- Those 65+ (56 percent) are most convinced it will, compared to other age groups (all are between 31 and 38 percent).
- By party, half of Republicans say it will, compared to only about a third of Democrats and independents.
Impact on job creation:
- 71 percent of those 65+ say it will have no effect on jobs, compared to 37 percent of those under age 30.
11. Do you think the cost of enforcing today’s marijuana laws is too high, or do you think the cost of enforcing today’s marijuana laws is acceptable?
