Poll Shows Majority Of Illinoisans Support Legalization Of Medical Marijuana
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Feb 15, 2013 11:20PM
A new poll by the shows 63.3 percent of Illinoisans either strongly favor or favor legalizing the medical use of marijuana. It remains a polarizing issue, though, with 32.1 percent opposed or strongly opposed.
Paul Simon Public Policy Institute asked respondents:
Some in Springfield have proposed that the state should make it legal for people with certain health issues to be prescribed small amounts of marijuana. Generally speaking, do you favor or oppose legalized medical marijuana in Illinois?
- Strongly favor 40.0%
- Favor 23.3%
- Oppose 6.8%
- Strongly oppose 25.3%
- Other/Don’t know 4.5%
Read the Simon Institute's full report [PDF] The poll also showed the legalization of gambling appears to be a more polarizing issue. Also, 45.5 percent of Illinoisans agree that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry, showing public opinion growing increasingly more favorable. It also showed just 16.7 percent of people believe abortion should be illegal in all situations. The poll shows 37 percent of people believe abortion should be legal under any circumstance, and 42.3 percent believe it should be legal under certain circumstances.