A new poll shows the majority of Florida voters support the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes, if prescribed by a doctor.
The poll released by Quinnipiac University Monday shows support is more than 80 percent of all listed groups, including 84 percent to 13 percent among voters over 65 years old.
When it comes to personal use, the majority shrank drastically, 53 percent to 42 percent.
Fifty-eight percent of men supported so-called recreational marijuana use, while 48 percent of women were in favor and 46 percent opposed.
Nearly 75 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 years old said they supported recreational drug use. Voters 30 to 64 years old favored the use by smaller margins. Those over 65 years old were opposed 61 percent to 33 percent.
Within party affiliations, 59 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of independents supported the use. Republicans opposed the issue 64 percent to 33 percent.
Of those polled, only 45 percent admitted to trying marijuana. Sixty-two percent of voters 50 to 64 years old admitted to smoking pot, which was more than any other group.
Marijuana is equally as dangerous as alcohol, 43 percent of voters said. Meanwhile, 12 percent said it is more dangerous, while 39 percent said it is less dangerous.
However, 54 percent of voters said marijuana use does not lead to using other drugs.
“If Vegas were giving odds on medical marijuana becoming legal in Florida, the bookies would be betting heavily,” said Peter A. Brown, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll. “With almost nine in 10 voters favoring legalization for medical purposes, and bills allowing such use advancing in the state legislature, the odds seem pretty good Florida may join the states which already have done so.”
The poll surveyed 1,413 registered voters from April 23 through April 28. The margin of error is +/- 2.6 percentage points.