Floridians have been supporting the idea of legalized medical marijuana since the idea of it getting onto the ballot was brought up. With each successive poll, Florida has shown a growing support for medical weed.
Now the latest Quinnipiac poll released Monday gives us the clearest picture to changing attitudes. According to the survey, nearly 90 percent of Floridians polled say they back the legalization of medical marijuana.
See also: Florida Medical Marijuana's Biggest Opponents and Threats
According to Quinnipiac, voters support legal medical weed 88 to 10 percent. Voters who identified themselves as 65 years old or older support is 83 to 14 percent, while the younger demo -- 18- to 29-year-olds -- support it an overwhelming 95 to 5 percent.
Legalized medical marijuana is even highly supported among Republicans. The poll says Republican voters support medical marijuana 80 to 19 percent.
Additionally, 55 percent of voters favor a legalization of pot for recreational uses, much as states like Colorado do, according to the poll.
There is a wide gender gap and an even wider age gap: Men back recreational marijuana 61 to 36 percent, while women back it 49 to 45 percent. Voters 18 to 29 years old are ready to roll 72 to 25, while voters over 65 years old are opposed 59 to 36 percent.
The numbers have always seemed to favor the legalization on medical marijuana in Florida. But the Quinnipiac poll seems to be looking at people's overall attitudes. And those attitudes seem to more and more be reflecting national trends.
This includes 71 percent of Floridians who say they would support having a marijuana dispensary in the town or city they live in.
"Forget the stereotypes of stodgy old folks living out their golden years playing canasta and golf," assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll, Peter Brown said, via their site. "Almost nine-in-ten Floridians favor legalizing medical marijuana, and a small majority says adults should be able to possess small amounts of the drug for recreational purposes."
There, of course, remains strong opposition to medical marijuana in Florida, particularly in groups like the Florida Sheriffs Association and Drug Free Florida, which have launched a staunch anti-Amendment 2 campaign called "Don't Let Florida Go to Pot."
But even the group's biggest donor's own research group has found that medical marijuana does indeed help those who suffer from debilitating diseases.
Groups like the FSA have leaned away from citing medical stats, instead going after the amendment itself, saying it's fraught with the kind of legal loopholes that would make all pot legal throughout Florida.
Advocates for Amendment 2 say there's no way any of this would be the case.
"If there was any doubt, the Florida Supreme Court has already ruled that the amendment will only be used in cases of debilitating illness," United for Care campaign manager Ben Pollara told New Times. "The purpose of the amendment is to allow the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician."
At the moment, the poll numbers seem to indicate legalized medical marijuana is almost upon us in Florida.
Medical Marijuana Poll July by Chris Joseph
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