Vermont Business Magazine A strong majority of Vermonters support making marijuana legal for adults, taxing it, and regulating it similarly to alcohol, according to a Castleton Polling Institute survey released Wednesday. This is nearly identical to results of a poll conducted by Vermont Business Magazine in late April.
In the Castleton poll, 57 percent of respondents said they support such a change in state law, with 34 percent saying they are opposed. The survey of 608 Vermont residents was conducted May 5-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. The results are available atmpp.org/VTpoll. In the Vermontbiz.com Quick Poll, 55.9 percent supported legalizing marijuana and 36.2 percent opposed legalization.For Senator Bill Doyle's Town Meeting survey, the vote was split 44 percent to 44 percent. (in the Vermontbiz and Doyle polls, "undecided" or "other" constituted the remaining votes and in all three polls there were rounding margins)
“People are fed up with marijuana prohibition,” said Matt Simon, New England Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Marijuana is an objectively less harmful substance than alcohol, and this poll shows most Vermonters want it to be treated that way.”
The Vermont Legislature approved a bill in April that includes an amendment initiating a study to evaluate the potential impact of making marijuana legal for adults and regulating it similarly to alcohol. Governor Shumlin is expected to sign it into law.
“Just about anyone who reviews the evidence objectively will arrive at the conclusion that prohibition has failed, and it’s time for a more sensible approach,” Simon said. “Regulating marijuana like alcohol would replace the underground market with licensed, tax-paying businesses. There is a reason why we don't see copious amounts of alcohol being illegally produced and trafficked around Vermont — because it's regulated.”
Vermontbiz.com Quick Poll
Some House members have once again raised the issue of legalizing marijuana for the tax revenues it could generate, should Vermont legalize marijuana?
Sources:www.mpp.org. www.vermontbiz.com