Firm SmithJohnson Research released poll today finding that 51% of Coloradans would oppose Amendment 64 today. Survey finds Colorado’s marijuana legalization law does not do a good job to prevent children from using marijuana or keep our roads safe.
DENVER, CO- SmithJohnson Research, a polling firm who has worked with Democrats and Republicans, today released a poll finding that a majority (51%) of likely Coloradan voters would oppose Amendment 64 today. Only about a quarter of voters thought the Amendment had done a good job at preventing marijuana-impaired driving and workplace accident, preventing child poisonings from marijuana candies, and preventing marijuana use from increasing among youth.
“After two years of increased marijuana use[i], a growing proliferation of marijuana candies aimed at children, more arrests in schools for pot[ii], a jump in the number of people publicly using marijuana[iii], and an increase in marijuana-related driving citations[iv], we shouldn’t be surprised that Coloradans are coming around to opposing legalization,” said Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Florida and President of SAM. “The special interest marijuana industry has too firm a grip on regulations in Colorado, and voters don’t like what they’re getting.”
“It’s time for a renewed conversation about marijuana in Colorado,” said Ben Cort, Colorado SAM Member and an addiction treatment professional.
Bob Doyle, chair of Colorado SAM said, “We intend to kick-start those conversations so that Coloradans – rather than the marijuana industry – can determine the future of their own state.”
Forty-five percent said they would strongly oppose the measure. Only 36% said they would be strongly for the measure if it were on a ballot now.
The telephone poll queried 600 likely voters, yielding a sampling error of +/- 4%. The top-cited concerns of voters were edible marijuana products and driving under the influence of marijuana.
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About SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana)
SAM is a nonpartisan alliance of lawmakers, scientists and other concerned citizens who want to move beyond simplistic discussions of “incarceration versus legalization” when discussing marijuana use and instead focus on practical changes in marijuana policy that neither demonizes users nor legalizes the drug. SAM supports a treatment, health-first marijuana policy.
[i] National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Colorado State Estimates (2014).
[ii] Denver Police Department Versadex and OSI database (2014).
[iii] Denver Police Department, 2014
[iv] Denver Police Department, Data from Aurora and Denver through Dec 1, 2014.