Majority of New Yorkers back use of recreational marijuana

A majority of New York voters back the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in the state even as lawmakers continue to grapple with the issue, a new survey released Monday reveals.

The Siena College poll found that 55 percent of voters back the legalization while 40 percent were opposed, mirroring support registered in previous polls.

Support for pot legalization was consistent across all regions of the state.

Two groups of voters opposed were older New Yorkers and Republicans. Fifty four percent of voters ages 55 and older were are against the government legalizing marijuana as were 53 percent of Republicans.

Voters under 35 backed weed by a three-to-one margin and nearly two-thirds of Democrats approve.

Marijuana legalization has run into more problems with the political class because of intense opposition among certain groups, particularly law enforcement. Numerous suburban and upstate counties — Nassau and Suffolk among them– have said they won’t allow marijuana to be sold within their geographical area.
“There continues to be support for legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. It has strong support from Democrats and independents, while Republicans oppose it, albeit narrowly, 53-40 percent,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.

The state Legislature, which is scheduled to adjourn its session June 19, has been unable to muster the voters to legalize weed.

But voters are resisting another controversial proposal that has languished in Albany — authorizing the state to provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Only 41 percent of voters back such a law, while 53 percent of respondents were opposed.
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