SCSU Weed Survey Says Most Central Minnesotans are Fine with Legal Pot

SCSU has completed its annual fall statewide survey relating to Minnesotan's views of marijuana and their personal use of the drug. The results have been released, and quite frankly, are no surprise. Basically, respondents are split on recreational legalization, overwhelmingly approve medicinal marijuana, and a good chunk have toked up.

When asked if weed should be legalized for medicinal use, 76% of the 630 respondents said yes.  In fact, in every demographic surveyed, the answer was yes. The yeses came from all political parties (even those that identified themselves at Libertarians and tea partiers), both men and women. The demographic closest to being opposed to the idea was Adults 75-84, but even then the survey showed that 55% were in favor of the idea. Not surprisingly, the highest approval percentage, 84% in favor of medical MJ, came from Adults 25-34. But one surprising finding was that those 85 and older brought the second highest approval; with 82% in favor.

ARE WE THE NEXT COLORADO?

When asked if the plant should be legalized for general (recreational) use, Minnesotans were split, by a slim 2% margin, well within the margin of error of the survey, which was reported as +/- 4.5%.

Majority support came from males (51%), Libertarians (67%) and Democrats (53%). Age-wise, recreational use is approved by those aged 18-24 (65%), 25-34 (54%) and 45-54 (49%), with 35-44 year olds virtually split (48% no,  47% yes). Clear differences were evident in older survey respondents.

PASS IT ON

A March 2013 Pew Research survey of Americans revealed that 48% had tried marijuana and 12% had used it in the last year. According to the SCSU study;

At least some use is widespread across various demographic groups in MN.  The consumption of marijuana is higher among males; Libertarians and Democrats and bit higher than among females, Republicans and Tea Party identifiers. We found 40-50% of our respondents at least sometime use including every age group except 65 to 85 and older; across the state;and, almost every education group.

This survey could signal an expansion in medicinal and recreational support, much like the Fall survey a year ago predicted the defeat of a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage.