420 with CNW — Poll Finds 67% of Voters in Louis
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According to the recently published results of a poll, at least two-thirds of voters in Louisiana support the full legalization of cannabis, both for recreational and medical use. These voters include the majority of the Republicans in the state, according to the poll.
This recent survey, conducted by JMC Enterprises, indicates that support for marijuana legalization in the state has risen significantly from the time a similar poll was done. For example, only 54% of the voters expressed support for legalization last year compared to the 67% who now say they would prefer to see cannabis legalized.
In this recent poll, only 16% of the people sampled admitted that they wouldn’t want to see marijuana legalized in Louisiana for recreational use, but they would support legalization for medicinal use. Just 8% expressed opposition to both medical and recreational use legalization.
As has been the case previously, Democrats lead the surge of supporters of cannabis legalization. The JMC poll, not surprisingly, shows that 67% of all Democrats support recreational marijuana legalization compared to 58% of Republicans who support the policy change. Youth are particularly bullish on the subject with 93% of all younger voters saying they would like to see marijuana legalized not only for medical but for recreational use as well.
During the same poll, voters were asked to express their thoughts about changing cannabis policy so that people are fined for marijuana possession or use instead of serving time in jail. Nearly half of the respondents said they preferred full legalization rather than decriminalization. Only 27% said removing criminal penalties would be preferred in lieu of full legalization.
At the moment, the marijuana laws in the state only allow patients enrolled in the medical marijuana program access a limited range of cannabis products. An estimated 75% of those who took part in the JMC poll want this to change so that patients have access to a wider variety of products, including the entire marijuana plant.
Last year, Gov. John B. Edwards appended his signature to a bill geared at expanding the state’s medical cannabis program so that licensed physicians could prescribe medical marijuana for any patient suffering from a debilitating condition. Previously, physicians could only recommend medical marijuana as a treatment for a narrowly defined list of conditions and diseases.
JMC Enterprises polled a total of 1,160 voters in the state March 22–23. The findings represent the latest views of registered voters in the state. It remains to be seen how these results will influence policy in the coming years.
As the discussion on whether marijuana should or shouldn’t be legalized in different jurisdictions rages on, many companies have found success in manufacturing products from nonintoxicating ingredients of the cannabis sativa plant. For instance, The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) started out selling pH-balanced drinking water, but the company has added a line of CBD-infused products to its offering, and the market has given an overwhelming positive response to those gummies, salves, tinctures and drinks.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WTER
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