NEW JERSEY: SUPPORT FOR LEGAL WEED STAYS HIGH

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1 Please attribute this information to: Monmouth University Poll West Long Branch, NJ Follow on Released: Monday, February 18, 2019 Contact: PATRICK MURRAY (cell); (office) Follow on NEW JERSEY: SUPPORT FOR LEGAL WEED STAYS HIGH Public sees tax revenue boon; backs expungement West Long Branch, NJ The Monmouth University Poll finds more than 6-in-10 New Jersey residents support legalizing marijuana and half say a current proposal to make that happen in the Garden State is a good idea. The number of people who say that legalization will help the state s economy and lead to a decrease in other drug crimes has ticked up over the past year. Three-quarters of the public also support the opportunity for those with past possession convictions to expunge their records. Most New Jersey adults (62%) currently support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use while oppose this. These numbers are in line with the 5-3 split recorded in a Monmouth poll last year. However, statewide support for legalization is higher than five years ago when it stood at 48% in favor and 4 opposed. Marijuana legalization receives support from most ocrats (72%) and independents (61%), but less than half of ublicans (4). By age, support stands at 81% among those 18 to 34 years old and at just over half among those age 35 to 54 (5) and age 55 or older (5). We find widespread public support for legalizing marijuana, but the devil is in the details. A question mark for some New Jerseyans is whether the state can set up an adequate regulatory system, said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. Public support is a little softer, but still positive, on a legislative proposal to allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own personal use from businesses that have been licensed by the state. Half () say this is a good idea while 3 say it is a bad idea. Another are unsure. The number of New Jerseyans who view this proposal as a good idea has jumped 14 points since 2014 when it was 3, while the number who say it is a bad idea has fallen by 11 points from 4. 1

2 Monmouth University Polling Institute 02/18/19 Among those who say this legalization proposal is a good idea, 40% cite increased tax revenue and economic gains as a key reason for their support. Another say prosecuting marijuana possession and jailing users wastes resources, 21% say that marijuana use is not harmful or at least no more so than alcohol and cite medical benefits to using marijuana. Other reasons why people think it is a good idea include the idea that legalizing marijuana will provide more control over its use (), that there s no way to stop its use anyway so it might as well be made legal (8%), and the fact that other states are already legalizing it (). Among those who say the legalization proposal is a bad idea, feel marijuana use is harmful or addictive, see it as a gateway drug, while 21% cite a potential increase in car accidents and driving under its influence. Another 20% worry that minors will get access to marijuana and 12% say its use is bad for society and will lead to other crime. Other reasons why people think it is a bad idea include decreased productivity at work (), difficulty in regulating it (), it is only being done for the tax revenue () and that it should be limited to medical use (). A major reason for public support of the current proposal is the expectation it will boost tax revenues. The pressure is on, with nearby states also looking into legalization. New Jersey will need to stay ahead of the curve if it wants to maximize the expected economic benefits, said Murray. Two-in-three New Jerseyans (68%) believe that legalizing marijuana would boost the state s economy, up from 60% who said the same last year. Just feel it would hurt the economy and 1 say it would have no impact. ocrats are even more likely to forecast economic benefits now (82%) than they were last year (68%). Nearly 2-in-3 independents (6) agree, similar to the 60% who felt this way last year. Half of ublicans (51%) predict economic benefits from legalization, which is about the same as last year (). About 3-in-10 Garden State residents (2) feel that legalizing marijuana would lead to an increase in other types of drug crime, which is similar to of the public who held this opinion last year. On the other hand, say it will actually lead to a decrease in those offenses which is up slightly from 2. Another 3 say marijuana legalization would have no impact on the rate of other drug crimes, compared to 3 who said it would have no impact in April New Jerseyans age 55 or older are more likely to feel that marijuana legalization will lead to an increase (42%) rather than decrease () in other drug crimes. Younger adults age 18 to 34 feel the opposite ( increase and 5 decrease). Those age 35 to 54 are divided between saying it would increase (3) or decrease () other drug crimes. The Monmouth University Poll also finds that most New Jerseyans (7) support giving people who were previously convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana the opportunity to clear those charges from their record. Another would oppose this even if New Jersey were to legalize 2

3 Monmouth University Polling Institute 02/18/19 recreational use of marijuana. Support for expungement comes from sizable majorities of ocrats (81%), independents (7), and ublicans (6), as well as those age 18 to 34 (81%), age 35 to 54 (7), and age 55 or older (6). The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone from February 8 to 10, 2019 with 604 New Jersey adults. The question results in this release have a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percentage points. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ. QUESTIONS AND RESULTS (* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.) [Q1 held for future release.] [Q2-12 previously released.] 13. Overall, do you support or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use? TREND: Feb. April April Support 62% 5 48% Oppose 3 4 (VOL) Don t know (n) (604) (703) (803) 14. There is currently a proposal in New Jersey to allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own use from businesses that have been licensed by the state government to sell marijuana. Do you think this is a good idea or bad idea, or do you have no opinion on it? TREND: Feb. April Good idea 3 Bad idea 3 4 No opinion (n) (604) (803) [Question 14A was asked of those who said GOOD/BAD IDEA.] 14A. Why do you think it is a [good/bad] idea? [Note: Results add to more than 100% because multiple responses were accepted] IF GOOD [moe=+/-5.] Feb Tax revenue, economy 40% Shouldn t be a crime, wastes resources Not harmful, like alcohol 21% Medical benefits More control, make safer Cannot stop use 8% Legal in other states Criminalization hurts minorities Other 8% No answer (n) (299) Feb. IF BAD [moe=+/-6.8%] 2019 Harmful, addictive DUI, accidents 21% Minors will have access 20% Bad for society, other crime 12% Gateway drug Decreased productivity Hard to regulate Medical use only Only want tax revenue Other No answer (n) (211) 3

4 Monmouth University Polling Institute 02/18/ Do you think legalizing help the state s economy, hurt the state s economy, or have no impact on the state s economy? TREND: Feb. April Help 68% 60% Hurt 1 No impact 1 20% (VOL) Don t know (n) (604) (703) 16. Do you think legalizing lead to an increase in other drug crimes, lead to a decrease in other drug crimes, or have no impact on the number of other drug crimes? TREND: Feb. April Increase 2 Decrease 2 No impact 3 3 (VOL) Don t know (n) (604) (703) 17. If New Jersey legalizes marijuana, would you support or oppose giving people who were previously convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana the opportunity to clear those charges from their criminal records? Feb Support 7 Oppose (VOL) Depends on amount (VOL) Don t know (n) (604) [Q18-24 previously released.] [Q25-37 held for future release.] METHODOLOGY The Monmouth University Poll was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute from February 8 to 10, 2019 with a random sample of 604 New Jersey adults age 18 and older, in English. This includes 301 contacted by a live interviewer on a landline telephone and 303 contacted by a live interviewer on a cell phone. Telephone numbers were selected through random digit dialing and landline respondents were selected with a modified Troldahl-Carter youngest adult household screen. Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey design, data weighting and analysis. Final sample is weighted for region, age, education, gender and race based on US Census information. Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field) and SSI (RDD sample). For results based on this sample, one can say with 9 confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 4.0 percentage points (unadjusted for sample design). Sampling error can be larger for subgroups (see table below). In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls. 2

5 Monmouth University Polling Institute 02/18/19 DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted) Self-orted 20% ublican 4 ependent 3 ocrat 48% Male 52% Female % White Black Hispanic 10% Asian/Other 6 No college degree 3 College graduate MARGIN OF ERROR unweighted sample moe (+/-) % REGISTERED VOTER Yes % No % SELF-REPORTED ublican ependent % ocrat % Male Female % White non-hispanic % Other % UATE No degree % 4 year degree $50 to <100K % REGION % Central South ### 3

6 Monmouth University Poll -- NEW JERSEY -- 2/18/19 Yes No Male Female Overall, do you support or Support 62% 61% 72% 4 61% 72% 70% 5 81% 5 oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for Oppose 3 22% % % personal use? 55+ White H-B-A-O No degree 4 yr degree REGION OF STATE 13. Overall, do you support or Support % % 6 60% 5 oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for Oppose 42% 30% % personal use? 2% 10% Central South 13. Overall, do you support or Support 6 70% oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for Oppose 30% 2 personal use? 14. There is currently a proposal in New Jersey to allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own use from businesses that have been licensed by the state government to sell marijuana. Do you think this is a...? Good idea Bad idea No opinion 3 Yes No 48% 62% % % 1 6 Male Female % 1 68% There is currently a proposal in New Jersey to allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own use from businesses that have been licensed by the state government to sell marijuana. Do you think this is a...? Good idea Bad idea No opinion 55+ White H-B-A-O No degree 4 yr degree REGION OF STATE 42% 38% Page 1

7 Monmouth University Poll -- NEW JERSEY -- 2/18/ There is currently a proposal in New Jersey to allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own use from businesses that have been licensed by the state government to sell marijuana. Do you think this is a...? Good idea Bad idea No opinion Central South % 14A. Why do you think it is a GOOD idea? [n=299] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ACCEPTED] Shouldnt be crime, wastes resources Tax revenue, economy More control, make safer Not harmful, like alcohol Medical benefits Cannot stop use Criminalization hurts minorities Legal in other states Other No answer 40% 21% 8% 8% 14A. Why do you think it is a BAD idea? [n=211] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ACCEPTED] DUI, accidents Gateway drug Harmful, addictive Decreased productivity Hard to regulate Medical use only Bad for society, other crime Minors will have access Only want tax revenue Other No answer 21% 12% 20% Page 2

8 Monmouth University Poll -- NEW JERSEY -- 2/18/ Do you think legalizing help the states economy, hurt the states economy, or have no impact on the states economy? Help Hurt No impact 68% 1 Yes No 68% 72% 12% % 21% 20% 6 12% 82% Male Female % 2% % 6 12% 15. Do you think legalizing help the states economy, hurt the states economy, or have no impact on the states economy? Help Hurt No impact 55+ White H-B-A-O % 10% 1 No degree 4 yr degree % % 12% REGION OF STATE Do you think legalizing help the states economy, hurt the states economy, or have no impact on the states economy? Help Hurt No impact Central 70% 1 8% South 7 10% Yes No Male Female Do you think legalizing lead to an increase in other drug Increase Decrease % % crimes, lead to a decrease in other drug crimes, or have no No impact % 31% % impact on the number of other drug crimes? 55+ White H-B-A-O No degree 4 yr degree REGION OF STATE 16. Do you think legalizing lead to an increase in other drug Increase Decrease 42% % 31% % 30% 30% 3 2 crimes, lead to a decrease in other drug crimes, or have no No impact % 3 38% 3 impact on the number of other drug crimes? 2% Page 3

9 Monmouth University Poll -- NEW JERSEY -- 2/18/19 Central South 16. Do you think legalizing lead to an increase in other drug Increase Decrease 31% 22% 4 crimes, lead to a decrease in other drug crimes, or have no No impact 38% 30% impact on the number of other drug crimes? 17. If New Jersey legalizes marijuana, would you support or oppose giving people who were previously convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana the opportunity to clear those charges from their criminal records? Support Oppose [VOL] Depends on amount 7 Yes No 7 70% 20% % 10% Male Female % 81% 1% 17. If New Jersey legalizes marijuana, would you support or oppose giving people who were previously convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana the opportunity to clear those charges from their criminal records? Support Oppose [VOL] Depends on amount White H-B-A-O 7 1% 6 22% 7 7 No degree 4 yr degree % 81% 1 2% If New Jersey legalizes marijuana, would you support or oppose giving people who were previously convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana the opportunity to clear those charges from their criminal records? Support Oppose [VOL] Depends on amount 70% 21% Central 7 1 South 7 Page 4