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Liberal Democrats Overwhelmingly Support Marijuana Legalization, Survey Data Reveals

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Democratic voters have become more liberal over the past 18 years, according to survey data released by Gallup on Tuesday. But one issue that continues to divide the conservative and liberal wings of the party is marijuana legalization.

Polling from 2013 to 2018 shows that 81 percent of individuals who identify as liberal Democrats favor cannabis legalization, whereas 62 percent of moderate Democrats and 44 percent of conservative Democrats feel the same.

Via Gallup.

That’s up substantially from the 2001 to 2006 survey period, when 69 percent of liberal Democrats, 29 percent of moderate Democrats and 27 percent of conservative Democrats said they back legalization.

It’s also worth noting that a growing proportion of Democrats identify as liberal. The cohort now represents 46 percent of the party, compared to just 17 percent who identify as conservative Democrats.

Via Gallup.

Still, while voters are increasingly finding common footing on issues like corporate taxes, gun control and unionization, legalization remains a somewhat contentious issue, according to Gallup.

“Conservative and liberal Democrats diverge sharply on other issues, particularly on certain values-related matters, with moderate Democrats generally falling somewhere in between,” the organization wrote.

“The key areas of intra-Democratic friction involve abortion, embryonic stem cell research, the death penalty, doctor-assisted suicide, defense spending, government-run healthcare, same-sex marriage, legalization of marijuana and whether global warming is a looming threat. Solid majorities of liberal Democrats, versus less than half of conservative Democrats, hold the traditionally liberal positions on these issues.”

The survey results could prove instructive for Democrats who decide to seek out the party’s 2020 presidential nomination. With the rise of liberal Democrats will likely come greater pressure for candidates to adopt pro-legalization planks—something that most candidates who’ve already announced their intent to run have already done.

A Gallup poll last year found that 66 percent of Americans—including 75 percent of Democrats—now support legalizing cannabis.

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Kyle Jaeger is Marijuana Moment's Sacramento-based managing editor. His work has also appeared in High Times, VICE and attn.

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