Ohio voters ages 46 to 65 showed the greatest support for medicinal marijuana, according to the most recent survey released by the Public Policy Polling.
According to the poll released Monday, 80 percent of 46 to 65 year olds responded that they favor allowing patients with terminal or debilitating medical conditions to possess and consume marijuana if their doctors recommend it.
Overall, nearly three out of every four Ohioans surveyed said they supported allowing patients in Ohio to use medical marijuana.
Seventy-six percent of respondents age 18 to 29 were in favor. Thirty to 45 year olds were 71 percent in favor and 64 percent of respondents older than 65 were in favor.
Political analyst Tom Sutton, a political science professor at Baldwin Wallace University, told newsnet5.com the support of older Ohioans is likely in line with the ailments that medical marijuana would aim to treat.
“Perhaps this speaks to people who see it as most relevant to the likelihood of having a condition where they need something like this,” Sutton said.
Mason Tvert, a spokesperson for Ohioans for Medical Marijuana and the Marijuana Policy Project, told newsnet5.com that his group has seen a similar trend in other states.
“People who are in their 40s, 50s and 60s are really starting to experience a lot of these conditions for which medical marijuana can be beneficial,” Tvert said, noting ailments like chronic back pain and cancer.
The survey of 672 randomly selected Ohio voters was conducted Feb. 17-18. The Marijuana Policy Project is putting the finishing touches on a constitutional ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana.
Women surveyed responded favorably more often than men.
Catholics and those who reported no religion showed more support than protestants or those who identified as “other.”
Sutton said the poll replicates past results in favor of legalizing medical marijuana and the latest data sends a clear message to lawmakers.
“It makes it clear the legislature has a pretty easy job in front of them if they want to make the steps towards legalization,” he said.
