Pubdate: Sat, 10 Jan 2015
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2015 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28

POLL: MOST GA. VOTERS BACK LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A clear majority of Georgia voters support legalizing medical
marijuana, but they appear more closely split on whether to permit its
recreational use, according to a poll by The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution.

The poll (http://bit.ly/1AGI8hY ) showed 84 percent of registered
voters agreed the General Assembly should legalize marijuana-based
medication. Lawmakers debated - but did not adopt - legislation last
year that would have made cannabis oil legally available for the ill.
The oil is harvested from marijuana plants and used to treat people
with some seizure disorders.

Voters were more closely divided on whether to legalize recreational
marijuana use. The poll indicted 46 percent of voters support
legalization, while 52 percent opposed it.

State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, has filed legislation to allow the
use of cannabis oil in medical treatment. That bill, however, would
legalize only the use of a marijuana derivative that does not produce
the high sought by recreational users. House Speaker David Ralston, a
Republican, has said he supports the plan.

"The people are ahead of the politicians on this one, especially on
the medical marijuana issue," said state Sen. Curt Thompson, D-Tucker.
Thompson has proposed allowing the sale of marijuana at licensed shops
and permitting its use by medical providers for treating cancer,
glaucoma, HIV and AIDS. "Elected officers should not be afraid of what
this will do politically because Georgians are ready for it."

New York-based Abt SRBI conducted the poll Monday through Thursday.
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage
points. Live operators called a mix of landlines and cellphones.

POLL METHODOLOGY:

- - Conducted by Abt SRBI in New York.

- - Weighted, statewide sample size of 905 Georgians. Pollsters
conducted 541 interviews by landline and 364 by cellphone.

- - Margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D