Support for medical marijuana in Florida is dropping with just a few days left until Election Day, according to our latest News 13/UF Bob Graham Center Poll released Thursday.

The new numbers show 46 percent of likely voters support medical marijuana, while 43 percent are against it and 7 percent are undecided.

Amendment 2 needs a 60 percent "yes" vote in order to pass.

Thursday's results are down slightly from our last poll we conducted just weeks ago, which showed 48 percent were in favor of Amendment 2, and 44 percent opposed to it.

Our pollsters say it's becoming more clear that Amendment 2 may not get the 60 percent vote it needs to pass, but those on both sides of the argument are fighting until the very end.

Last year, Jeanette Bokland never thought about marijuana, but that was before she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and had to undergo harsh chemo therapy. She said it got so rough, she thought about giving up her fight.

"It broke me," said Bokland. "I was actually thinking about researching on the Internet whats going to happen if I stop my chemo."

But then, a friend gave her some medical marijuana to help ease the pain. It was in candy form, and she ate it, knowing it was illegal.

"I relaxed. It settled down the nausea and the anxiety that went with it," Bokland said. "I could sleep, and most importantly, I could eat a little bit."

Bokland said the marijuana was what got her through her cancer fight, and its why she's pushing for Amendment 2 to pass — because of the relief it could bring to the sickest people.

But on the other side, there's a strong warning about the consequences the constitutional amendment would bring.

"It does not belong in our constitution," said Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger, who believes the way the amendment is written is flawed, that it doesn't hold anyone liable or provide enough restrictions.

"There's no age requirement on a qualifying patient. There's no state relationship or certification for a personal caregiver. There's no residency requirement," Eslinger said. "It's not just for Florida residents, it's for whoever."

Voter turnout among youth be the determining factor. Our lasest poll shows support in the age group 18 to 34 is growing, but it still doesn't appear to be enough to get the 60 percent needed.

Our poll also found that many people are not supporting medical marijuana because it is a constitutional amendment, not a legislative move.

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Poll Index

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Poll Results: How did you vote/do you think you will vote on Amendment 2?

 

1. All Voters
  YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
ALL 46% 43% 7% 4%
PARTY YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Democrats 56% 32% 7% 4%
Republicans 32% 58% 6% 4%
Other 67% . 33% .
Independents 50% 38% 7% 5%
MEDIA MARKET YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Fort Myers 39% 47% 5% 10%
Jacksonville 46% 42% 7% 6%
Miami 50% 39% 5% 6%
Orlando 45% 47% 6% 2%
Other 45% 50% 5% .
Pensacola 42% 44% 9% 5%
Tampa Bay 48% 43% 5% 4%
West Palm Beach 44% 34% 16% 7%
RACE YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Other 49% 35% 6% 10%
Black 49% 36% 9% 6%
White 45% 45% 7% 3%
HISPANIC YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
No 47% 43% 7% 4%
Yes 36% 50% 9% 5%
Don't Know . 43% 28% 28%
Refused Answer 48% 29% . 22%
GEOGRAPHIC AREA YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
South 47% 41% 7% 6%
North 45% 46% 6% 3%
Don't Know/Refused 33% 43% 25% .
AGE GROUP YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
18–24 60% 40% . .
25–34 68% 26% 6% 6%
35–44 51% 33% 9% 9%
45–59 50% 38% 6% 6%
60+ 34% 54% 8% 8%
AGE GROUP II YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
18–60 55% 34% 6% 6%
61+ 34% 55% 8% 8%
SEX YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Female 42% 45% 9% 9%
Male 50% 42% 4% 4%
VOTING METHOD YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Plan to Vote 47% 41% 9% 9%
Absentee Ballot 41% 50% 2% 2%
Early Voting 47% 43% 1% 1%
Don't Know 45% 42% 13% 13%
Refused Answer 68% . 32% 32%

 

2. Asked only of those who already voted
  YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
ALL 43% 47% 2% 8%
PARTY YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Democrats 57% 32% 4% 8%
Republicans 25% 66% 2% 7%
Other 100% . . .
Independents 47% 41% . 12%
MEDIA MARKET YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Fort Myers 45% 43% . 12%
Jacksonville 35% 57% . 8%
Miami 46% 35% 6% 13%
Orlando 33% 62% 3% 3%
Other 45% 52% 3% .
Pensacola 42% 58% . .
Tampa Bay 50% 41% 1% 8%
West Palm Beach 39% 37% 4% 20%
RACE YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Other 51% 29% . 19%
Black 45% 43% 4% 9%
White 41% 50% 2% 6%
HISPANIC YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
No 42% 49% 2% 7%
Yes 49% 39% 4% 7%
Don't Know . . . 100%
Refused Answer 43% . . 57%
GEOGRAPHIC AREA YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
South 47% 40% 2% 12%
North 36% 59% 2% 3%
Don't Know/Refused 48% 28% 24% .
AGE GROUP YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
18–24 62% 38% . .
25–34 82% 14% 4% .
35–44 45% 51% . 4%
45–59 38% 42% 3% 17%
60+ 38% 54% 2% 7%
AGE GROUP II YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
18–60 50% 38% 2% 11%
61+ 37% 55% 2% 6%
SEX YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Female 39% 50% 2% 9%
Male 47% 44% 3% 6%
VOTING METHOD YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Absentee Ballot 41% 49% 2% 8%
Early Voting 47% 43% 1% 9%
Refused Answer . . 100% .

 

3. Asked of those who haven't voted, but plan to vot
  YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
ALL 47% 41% 9% 3%
PARTY YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Democrats 56% 32% 10% 2%
Republicans 36% 53% 8% 3%
Other 50% . 50% .
Independents 52% 37% 9% 2%
MEDIA MARKET YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Fort Myers 31% 51% 11% 7%
Jacksonville 49% 37% 9% 5%
Miami 51% 41% 5% 3%
Orlando 52% 38% 8% 2%
Other 45% 49% 6% .
Pensacola 42% 41% 11% 6%
Tampa Bay 47% 44% 8% 1%
West Palm Beach 45% 33% 20% 2%
RACE YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
Other 48% 38% 9% 5%
Black 50% 33% 11% 5%
White 47% 42% 9% 2%
HISPANIC YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
No 49% 39% 9% 2%
Yes 31% 54% 11% 4%
Don't Know . 60% 40% .
Refused Answer 52% 48% . .
GEOGRAPHIC AREA YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
South 46% 42% 10% 2%
North 49% 40% 8% 3%
Don't Know/Refused 25% 50% 25% .
AGE GROUP YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
AGE GROUP II YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
SEX YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
VOTING METHOD YES NO Don't Know Refused Answer
18–24 59% 41% . .
25–34 65% 29% 6% .
35–44 52% 28% 11% 9%
45–59 55% 37% 7% 2%
60+ 31% 54% 13% 2%
18–60 56% 33% 7% 3%
61+ 31% 54% 13% 2%
Female 44% 41% 13% 2%
Male 51% 40% 5% 3%
Plan to Vote 47% 41% 9% 3%
Absentee Ballot . 100% . .
Don't Know 45% 42% 13% .
Refused Answer 100% . . .

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About the Poll

The telephone survey of 850 likely Florida voters was conducted Oct. 24–28 for News 13, Bay News 9 and the Tampa Bay Times by the University of Florida's Bob Graham Center for Public Service and Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

The poll, which included respondents using land lines and cell phones, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Results were weighted by age, party registration and media market, thus allowing the results to mirror the distribution in the Florida Voter File.

NOTE: Figures may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.