Politics
Polls Show Support For Marijuana Legalization, Rescheduling And Industry Banking Access In Three Key Battleground States
As the November election approaches, a new series of polls shows widespread majority support for marijuana legalization, cannabis federal rescheduling and cannabis industry banking access among likely voters in three key presidential battleground states: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The surveys—conducted by The Tarrance Group and commissioned by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company—asked respondents about four marijuana-related issues. Voters were prompted with questions about their views on medical cannabis legalization, adult-use legalization, marijuana banking reform and the federal scheduling status of cannabis.
In each of the swing states where voters were polled, there was majority support for all of the proposed reforms, albeit at slightly differing levels. The results also come as observers await a formal statement from the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, about where he stands on a recreational legalization measure that will be on the ballot in Florida, where he’s a resident.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has a more defined position on cannabis issues heading into the election. While critics , including Trump, have been quick to point to her prosecutorial record on marijuana, she’s also sponsored a comprehensive legalization bill in the Senate and called for legalization as recently as March during a closed-door meeting with cannabis pardon recipients.
In any case, the new Tarrance Group surveys that were conducted from July 7-10 and released on Wednesday found that either candidate might stand to benefit from backing marijuana reform amid tightening polling after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Harris became the Democratic party’s nominee.
“Candidates who favor common sense marijuana laws and rules have a real advantage in battleground states and can make inroads with key voting blocs that are expected to play a critical role in deciding the presidency and control of Congress,” Brian Herrington, vice president of external affairs for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, said in a press release.
“Regardless of party affiliation, voter support for marijuana reform is as strong as ever,” he said. “Candidates have an opportunity to align with voter preferences by ending prohibition with responsible regulation, giving legal cannabis businesses access to commercial banks and categorizing cannabis as a low-risk drug.”
Here’s are the questions asked of likely voters in battleground state on marijuana policy issues:
- Now, thinking about the issue of cannabis, also known as marijuana. Generally speaking: Would you favor or oppose legalizing marijuana for medical use by adults with conditions that the medical community agrees marijuana can help treat?
- And now thinking about legalizing marijuana for recreational use by adults over age 21: Generally speaking, do you favor or oppose legalizing marijuana for recreational use by adults over the age of 21?
- As you may know, marijuana, which has recognized medical benefits, is currently listed by the federal government on the most dangerous drug schedule along with substances like heroin, LSD and ecstasy that have no medical benefits. This means at the federal level, marijuana possession is a crime equal to heroin possession. Should marijuana continue to be listed by the federal government on the most dangerous drug schedule with substances like heroin, LSD and ecstasy and that have no medical benefits?
- Currently, even in states where marijuana is legal, federal policy prevents state licensed marijuana businesses from accessing any banking or financial services. Consequently, these businesses operate only in cash. Some have proposed changing the federal policies, thus allowing those licensed businesses access to banking services. Do you generally favor or oppose allowing state-licensed marijuana businesses to access traditional banking services in states where marijuana is now legal?
And here are the results for each state:
Michigan
- Medical cannabis legalization: 83 percent
- Adult-use marijuana legalization: 64 percent
- Keep marijuana in Schedule I: 19 percent
- Cannabis banking reform: 67 percent
Pennsylvania
- Medical cannabis legalization: 79 percent
- Adult-use marijuana legalization: 58 percent
- Keep marijuana in Schedule I: 14 percent
- Cannabis banking reform: 70 percent
Wisconsin
- Medical cannabis legalization: 83 percent
- Adult-use marijuana legalization: 62 percent
- Keep marijuana in Schedule I: 20 percent
- Cannabis banking reform: 71 percent
Notably, the polling is roughly consistent even though the three states have significantly different marijuana laws.
Cannabis is legal for both medical and adult use in Michigan, with a well-established market that has seen record sales and resulting marijuana tax revenue that’s supported public education, infrastructure and more.
Pennsylvania has a medical cannabis program, and lawmakers have worked over recent sessions to advance adult-use legalization, so far without success. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has advocated for the reform, including it in budget requests, but some legislators have criticized him over what they describe as a lack of proactive engagement with the legislature on the issue.
Wisconsin has the most restrictive laws of the three, with no comprehensive medical or recreational program in place. The governor has also pushed for legalization, but despite GOP leadership pledging to deliver a medical marijuana bill, that’s yet to happen.
Meanwhile, Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, choosing a candidate who backed numerous cannabis reform measures in Congress, called for an end to prohibition when he was running for governor and then signed a comprehensive legalization bill into law in 2023.
As president, Trump largely stayed true to his position that marijuana laws should be handled at the state-level, with no major crackdown on cannabis programs as some feared after then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Obama era federal enforcement guidance. In fact, Trump criticized the top DOJ official and suggested the move should be reversed.
While he was largely silent on the issue of legalization, he did tentatively endorse a bipartisan bill to codify federal policy respecting states’ rights to legalize.
That said, on several occasions he released signing statements on spending legislation stipulating that he reserved the right to ignore a long-standing rider that prohibits the Justice Department from using its funds to interfere with state-legal medical marijuana programs.
Before Biden bowed out of the race, his campaign made much of the president’s mass cannabis pardons and rescheduling push, drawing a contrast with the Trump administration’s record. The Harris campaign so far has not spoken to that particular issue, and the nominee has yet to publicly discuss marijuana policy issues since her own campaign launched.
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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
