The latest survey out of the Connecticut university shows that public support for marijuana legalization has notched a new high.  Levels of public support have steadily climbed in recent years. When Quinnipiac pollsters posed the legalization question back in December 2012 — just a month after residents in Colorado and Washington voted to start adult-use cannabis sales in their states — Americans who favored the move nationally totaled 51 percent. A federal bill query was also one of 11 marijuana-related questions on the survey, the largest number of cannabis questions posed to-date on a single Quinnipiac poll.  Nearly three-quarters of American voters surveyed by Qunnipiac University say they would support legislation that shields states that have legalized medical or recreational from federal prosecution. The poll showed that 74 percent of Americans surveyed said they would favor such a bill, with 20 percent opposing and 6 percent not knowing or responding.   A sampling of the questions are below:

Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States, or not?

Yes: 63 percent
No: 33 percent
DK/NA: 4 percent

Do you support or oppose allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it?

Support: 93 percent
Oppose: 5 percent
DK/NA: 1 percent

Would you support or oppose the government enforcing federal laws against marijuana in states that have already legalized medical or recreational marijuana?

Support: 23 percent
Oppose: 70 percent
DK/NA: 7 percent

So it seems clear to me that the tide is indeed turning and we may be witnessing  the dismantling of the old narrative that cannabis has no medical value. Too many peer reviewed studies are coming out now the dispute the old myths of cannabis.  Congressional leaders are seeing the impact of CBD oil and how it helps some children with epilepsy, cancer, auto immune diseases and so on. They’re introducing bills into their state legislature that will hopefully bring the healing effects of cannabis to their constituents if passed. Now more than ever we need to keep pressure on our elected officials to make sure they do the people’s will and fight for our right to legal, accessible cannabis.  Source for data: The Cannabist