The results are in for the approval of the legalization of marijuana, and it’s much higher.

A recent Gallup poll showed that 58 percent of Americans approve the legalization of marijuana, which is a 10 percent increase since last November.

The recent legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington as of last year might be a reason for the noticeable jump in support, Gallup reported.

The poll shows that a majority of Democrats and Independents support legalization. Specifically, 65 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of Independents said they were in favor.

“We are creeping toward legalization,” said Susan Scholl, internship coordinator for the Department of Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, about the possibility of legalization in New York. “The first step would be decriminalization and then I believe the second wave will be the approval of medical marijuana.”

Richard Ellison, a professor of law at the Syracuse University College of Law, said New York state politicians have failed to address the needs of constituents who require medical marijuana. Ellison said he believes politicians have not legalized medical marijuana because they fear political backlash. “It’s a matter of political courage,” he said.  But he added, “Polls such as the ones recently released by Gallup can help give politicians leeway.”

Gabriel Sayegh, director of New York’s Drug Policy Alliance, said the state assembly has passed a bill to approve medical marijuana several times, but the state Senate has not voted on it.

“New York doesn’t have the compassion to even release medical marijuana restrictions to alleviate pain for those who are suffering,” Sayegh said.

But, Sayegh said, state Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) will introduce a bill next year to fully legalize marijuana.

“We don’t need to come to an immediate agreement with the bill next year, but we should not delay on a medical marijuana bill,” Sayegh said.

Sayegh added that people are already purchasing and selling marijuana illegally, and the state does not profit from any of it. If New York were to eventually legalize marijuana, he said, the state could tax and regulate the drug, potentially benefiting schools and other state and social programs.

The poll said it was clear there is popular support for legalization among people in the survey ages 18-64, but especially among younger people. Sixty-seven percent of 18- to 29-year-olds affirmed their support while 62 percent of people ages 30-49 approve of the legalization of marijuana.

Marijuana should at least be decriminalized so there would be fewer arrests for marijuana, said Annie D’Elia, a sophomore public relations major.

“It’s excessive, and it’s too much for too small of a problem, and the punishment doesn’t really fit,” she said.

Kyle Kimball, a senior advertising major, said if marijuana were legalized in New York, more students would smoke it.

Said Kimball: “I think Marshall Street would be more popular, and Insomnia Cookies would get more business.”

Published on October 29, 2013 at 12:34 am

Contact Anna: almerod@syr.edu