Medical marijuana has broad support in NC, Elon Poll finds. Will that lead to action?

A large majority of North Carolinians — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — would support the legalization of medical marijuana, a new poll has found.

The poll from Elon University, published Thursday morning, also found that most people would approve of even broader changes to fully legalize weed.

The 54% support for full legalization is not as widespread as the 73% support for more limited medical marijuana legalization, but it indicates views have changed since a 2017 poll, when 51% opposed full legalization.

The 73% support for medical marijuana is actually lower than support in that 2017 poll. It is the same finding as a poll from last year, conducted by CBS17.

Thursday’s Elon poll also found that only around one in every four people think it is “morally wrong” to use marijuana, or that marijuana is a “gateway drug.” Similarly, most people don’t think legalizing marijuana would lead to an increase in either crime or traffic accidents, and most said it would help the economy.

In all, the findings indicate that people are largely OK with weed — even though it remains illegal.

“On most issues where you have almost 80% support for legalization, you see it get legalized,” said Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll. “Not in North Carolina, though.” [Read more at The News & Observer]