Those backing a ballot measure to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes have some work to do before November.
That's according to a poll released by Florida Atlantic University's Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab and Mainstreet Research, a Canada-based polling firm.
The survey results show just 47% of respondents support the measure, which will appear as Amendment 3 on the ballot, far short of the 60% needed to become law. But while 35% oppose it, there are 18% who are undecided, giving supporters a pool of voters to persuade in the coming months.
Older voters, those 65 and above, have the most tepid support for Amendment 3, at 36%. But middle-age voters, those aged 35-49, are the most enthusiastic, with 68% in favor. Less than half of younger voters, those 18-34, support the measure, about 48%, or the same level as those aged 50-64.
Democratic voters are the most supportive, backing it at 58%, with Republicans at 39% support and 43% of independents backing it. Among racial and ethnic groups, Black voters are most in favor, at 55%, and Hispanics are most skeptical with just 30% support. About 50% of White voters are in favor.
Amendment 3 would legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes by those over 21. It would also grant licensed medical marijuana treatment centers the ability to "acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute" marijuana and related products for such use.
The amendment also notes that it doesn't change federal law, which still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug.
If 60% of voters approve the measure, it would take effect six months after the November election.
Medical marijuana company Trulieve has sunk more than $40 million into the effort to gather petitions and get the measure on the ballot, and a handful of other companies donated $14.9 million in the first three months of the year to help pass it. Gov. Ron DeSantis has criticized the amendment as overly broad.
There were 865 respondents to the poll, which was based on text messages and automated calls and conducted from April 15-17. It has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.
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