ARKANSAS VOTERS SUPPORT POT DECRIM
DPEG poll finds slim majority
ARKANSAS VOTERS SUPPORT POT DECRIM
Zogby International was commissioned by the Drug Policy Education Group to conduct an online survey of 436 voters in Arkansas. The survey was conducted from November 7 through November 11, 2008.
A sampling of Zogby International's online panel, which is representative of the adult population of Arkansas, was invited to participate. Slight weights were added to party, age, race, gender, and education to more accurately reflect the voting population. The margin of error is +/- 4.8 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.
Panel participants were asked: "In 2007, over 7,400 adults were arrested in Arkansas for misdemeanor possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, over half the state's total drug arrests. According to a national 2005 study, state and local governments spend an average of $10,400 per arrest on police, courts, and jails. Based on that estimate, 2007 marijuana arrests will cost Arkansas taxpayers nearly $77 million dollars. Knowing this information, would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose a law that would eliminate the penalties for adult marijuana possession of one ounce or less?"
Strongly support 35% Somewhat support 17% Support 53%
Somewhat oppose 7% Strongly oppose 38% Oppose 45%
Not sure 3
More than half (53%) of Arkansas voters support a law that would eliminate the penalties for adult marijuana possession of one ounce or less, including one in three (35%) who strongly support such a law. Forty-five percent are oppose to such a law, including 38% who are strongly opposed. Three percent are not sure where they stand.
A majority of Democrats (66%) and Independents (66%) are in support of such a law, but 71% of Republicans would oppose such a law. Intensity is on the side of Republicans as 63% are strongly opposed compared to 49% of both Democrats and Independents who are strongly in support.
A majority of voters under 64 would support such a law, but as might be expected, those under 30 are the most intensely supportive with 58% saying they would strongly support a law eliminating the penalties for adults in possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. In addition, a majority of both whites (51%) and African Americans (64%) say they would support such a law, while women (59%) are more likely than men (46%) to say they would support this law.
In 2006, DPEG commissioned a similar survey with slightly different wording in the question, asking if voters would support a marijuana law reform "reducing" the penalties for adult marijuana possession offenses. The response was: Strongly support 36%, Somewhat support 25%, Total Support 61%; Somewhat oppose 13%, Strongly oppose 22%, Total Oppose 35%, Not sure 4%. The MOE for the 2006 poll was 4.9%.
Recent initiatives in two Arkansas communities have called for adult marijuana misdemeanor offenses to be the lowest law enforcement priority, gaining voter approval in both Eureka Springs (2006) and Fayetteville (2008) by a two to one margin. Nationally, polls have found up to 73% approval for marijuana decriminalization.
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