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Fact check/Has public opinion changed on the medical use of marijuana?

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Fact check: Has public opinion changed on the medical use of marijuana?

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State seal of North Carolina

March 13, 2017
By Amée LaTour

Legislation in North Carolina to legalize the use of marijuana by patients who have received a recommendation from a physician passed its first reading in the state House on February 27 and was referred to committee.[1] While discussing the bill with the Winston-Salem Journal, sponsor Rep. Rodney Moore (D-District 99) claimed, “Medical marijuana is something that the public has changed its mind on, even in North Carolina.”[2]

Is Rep. Moore correct? Has public opinion changed on the medical use of marijuana, both nationally and in North Carolina?

Polls do show North Carolinians’ support for the medical use of marijuana increasing. In 2013, 58 percent of respondents contacted by Public Policy Polling expressed support for it—and in 2016, that number that increased to 74 percent.[3][4][5][6]

The results of national polls have varied, but a majority of respondents have consistently supported allowing doctors to recommend marijuana, and that support has increased over time. However, there is less support among Republicans than among Democrats and independents.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Background

Rep. Moore was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2010.[16] House Bill 185, which he introduced last month, would legalize the use of marijuana for certain debilitating conditions or symptoms from treatment and prevent the enactment of civil or criminal penalties against patients, doctors, or caregivers related to the medical use of marijuana.[1] It is the fourth measure related to marijuana that he has sponsored.

In 2015, Moore co-sponsored two bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana by patients with debilitating conditions whose physicians have recommended its use. Both bills passed a first reading, but neither one made it out of committee.[17][18] Moore also co-sponsored a 2013 bill that would have required the Legislative Research Commission to study possible revenue streams from the medical use of marijuana as well as how other states have regulated it after legalization. This bill also died in committee.[19]

As of March 2017, 28 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana for certain medical purposes. Under federal law, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I substance, meaning that its cultivation, distribution, and use are prohibited.[20][21] In 2014, Congress prohibited the Department of Justice from using funds to enforce federal prohibitions on the medical use of marijuana in states where it was legalized.[22] Congress voted to continue the prohibition on federal fund use for that purpose in 2015’s spending bill and extended it in 2016’s continuing resolution through April 28, 2017.[23][24]

California was the first state to legalize marijuana for medical use in 1996.[21] In 2016, Arkansas and Florida became the first southeastern states to do so. Arkansas voters had rejected an initiative to legalize its medical use in 2012 (by 51 to 49 percent), but approved a 2016 initiative by 53 to 47 percent.[25] That initiative allocated tax revenue generated from marijuana sales to technical institutes, vocational schools, workforce training, and the general fund.

A simple majority of Floridians in 2014 voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to legalize the medical use of marijuana, but the measure failed to garner the 60 percent supermajority required for approval. However, a similar initiative did pass in 2016 with 71.32 percent in favor and 28.68 percent opposed.[26]

North Carolina polls

According to Public Policy Polling surveys commissioned by NORML of North Carolina, the percentage of North Carolina voters who support allowing a doctor to prescribe or recommend marijuana for medical use increased from 58 percent in 2013 to 74 percent in 2016.[27][28][3][4][5][6] (Note, however, that the participants in 2013, 2014, and 2015 were asked if they thought doctors should be allowed to prescribe marijuana, whereas the 2016 poll asked if they thought doctors should be allowed to recommend marijuana.)[29]



National polls

National polls have consistently found majority support for allowing doctors to recommend marijuana for medical use. There is some variation in opinion between political affiliations, with more support among Democrats and independents than among Republicans. National polls conducted more recently show the highest levels of support.[7][8][9][10][11][12][14][15]

CBS News first asked if “doctors should be allowed to prescribe small amounts of marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses” in 1997; 62 percent said they should be allowed to, and 32 percent disapproved. More recent polls show opposition diminishing over time.[7][8][9][10][11]




Gallup asked poll participants in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2010 if marijuana should be legally available for doctors to prescribe “in order to reduce pain and suffering.”[30] Majority support increased from 1999 to 2005 but decreased in 2010.[13]


Would you favor or oppose making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering?
Response 1999 2003 2005 2010
Favor 73% 75% 78% 70%
Oppose 25% 22% 22% 27%
Source: Gallup, "Illegal Drugs," accessed March 6, 2017


ABC News conducted a poll with Discovery Channel in 1997 and with The Washington Post in 2010, asking participants, “Regardless of what you think about the personal non-medical use of marijuana, do you think doctors should or should not be allowed to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes to treat their patients?” In 1997, 69 percent said doctors should be allowed to do so, and 27 percent disapproved. In 2010, 81 percent said doctors should be allowed to, and 18 percent disapproved.[12]

In 2016 and 2017, Quinnipiac University asked voters, “Do you support or oppose allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it?” The responses were categorized by political affiliation, gender, race, age, and education levels, and more than 80 percent of each group in both polls expressed support. The largest discrepancy in responses for both years occurred by political affiliation. In both polls, a majority of Republican participants supported the medical use of marijuana, but a higher majority of Democrats or independents indicated support.[14][15]


Do you support or oppose allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it?
2017 Total Democrats Independents Republicans 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Women
Support (%) 93 96 95 85 96 94 94 92 91 95
Oppose (%) 6 3 4 12 3 6 5 7 8 4
2016 Total Democrats Independents Republicans 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Women
Support (%) 89 94 93 81 91 89 90 89 90 89
Oppose (%) 9 5 5 17 7 10 9 9 8 9
Sources: Quinnipiac University Poll, "Allow Marijuana For Vets With PTSD, U.S. Voters Say 10-1, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Slim Majority Says Legalize Marijuana In General,' June 6, 2016 and "Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana," February 23, 2017


Conclusion

Legislation in North Carolina to legalize the medical use of marijuana passed its first reading in the state House on February 27 and was referred to committee.[1] While discussing the bill with Winston-Salem Journal, sponsor Rep. Rodney Moore (D-District 99) claimed, “Medical marijuana is something that the public has changed its mind on, even in North Carolina.”[2]

Polling in the state commissioned by NORML of North Carolina has shown increased support since 2013. National polls also show increasing majority support.

See also

Sources and Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 General Assembly of North Carolina, “House Bill 185,” accessed March 5, 2017
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Winston-Salem Journal, “Medical marijuana gets another look from N.C. legislature,” February 24, 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 NORML of North Carolina, “Medical marijuana strongly supported by a majority of North Carolinians,” January 14, 2013
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 NORML of North Carolina, “Public Policy Polling, North Carolina Survey Results,” January 12, 2014
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 NORML of North Carolina, “Public Policy Polling, North Carolina Survey Results,” January 31, 2015
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 NORML of North Carolina, “Public Policy Polling, North Carolina Survey Results,” April 24, 2016
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 CBS News, “CBS News Poll, Marijuana and Medical Marijuana,” accessed March 7, 2017
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Scribd, “CBS News Poll, Marijuana and Medical Marijuana,” accessed March 7. 2017
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Scribd, “For the First Time, Most Americans Think Marijuana Use Should be Legal,” January 23, 2014
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Scribd, “CBS News Poll, Support for Legal Marijuana Use is at a New High,” April 20, 2015
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 CBS Miami, “CBS News Poll, Marijuana Use and Support for Legal Marijuana Continues to Climb,” April 20, 2016
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 ABC News, "ABC News/Washington Post Poll: Medical Marijuana," January 18, 2010
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Gallup, "Illegal Drugs," accessed March 6, 2017
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Quinnipiac University Poll, “Allow Marijuana For Vets With PTSD, U.S. Voters Say 10-1, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Slim Majority Says Legalize Marijuana In General,” June 6, 2016
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Quinnipiac University Poll, "Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana," February 23, 2017
  16. ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, “Representative Rodney W. Moore,” accessed March 5, 2017
  17. ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, “House Bill 78,” accessed March 5, 2017
  18. ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, “House Bill 317,” accessed March 5, 2017
  19. ↑ General Assembly of North Carolina, “House Bill 941,” accessed March 5, 2017
  20. ↑ See the Controlled Substances Act: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "Controlled Substances Act," updated June 11, 2009
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ballotpedia, “Medical marijuana,” accessed March 10, 2017
  22. ↑ Library of Congress, “H.R.83 - Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015,” December 16, 2014
  23. ↑ Library of Congress, “H.R.2029 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016,” December 8, 2015
  24. ↑ Library of Congress, “H.R.2028 - Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017,” December 10, 2016
  25. ↑ Ballotpedia, “Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, Issue 6 (2016),” accessed March 7, 2017
  26. ↑ Ballotpedia, “Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016),” accessd March 7, 2017
  27. ↑ NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is a nonprofit organization that lobbies for the legalization of marijuana. NORML, “Introduction,” accessed March 13, 2017
  28. ↑ Jim Williams of Public Policy Polling confirmed with Ballotpedia that the firm was commissioned by NORML of North Carolina to conduct the polls. Amee LaTour, “Email communication with Jim Williams,” February 28, 2017
  29. ↑ Since marijuana is a Schedule I substance, it cannot legally be prescribed. See National Conference of State Legislatures, “State Medical Marijuana Laws,” updated March 1, 2017
  30. ↑ In 1999, Gallup asked participants if they “would vote for or against” “making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering”; in the other three years, they asked if participants favored or opposed doing so. Gallup, “Americans Oppose General Legalization of Marijuana,” April 9, 1999
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