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Marijuana policy opinions in Washington state since legalization: Would voters vote the same way?
- Source :
- Contemporary drug problems. 43(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Background: In 2012, voters in Washington state approved Initiative 502 (I-502) which legalized recreational marijuana use at the state level. This study examines the relationship between demographics, marijuana and alcohol use, and voting outcomes, as well as how these variables relate to (i) whether voters would still vote the same way (a reflection of satisfaction with the new policy) and (ii) the likelihood of using marijuana purchased from legal retail stores. Methods: The sample consists of 2,007 adult Washington state residents recruited through Random Digit Dial between January and October 2014. Bivariate tests and multivariable regressions were used for analyses. Results: Less than 5% of those who voted for marijuana legalization would change their votes, whereas 14% of those who voted against legalization would change their votes. In multivariable models controlling for demographics, substance use, and marijuana-related opinions, those who voted for legalization had half the odds of changing their votes than those who voted against it. Among past-year nonmarijuana users, almost 10% were somewhat/very likely to use marijuana if they could buy it from a legal store. Past marijuana use, the belief that adults should be allowed to grow marijuana for personal use, and the belief that marijuana is not very risky for health were all related to increased likelihood of using marijuana purchased from legal stores. Conclusion: Since November 2012, support for marijuana legalization in Washington state has increased; accounting for the proportion of voters who would change their votes suggests that I-502 would pass today with even more votes in favor.
- Subjects :
- Recreational Marijuana Use
Health (social science)
biology
Health Policy
media_common.quotation_subject
education
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
030508 substance abuse
Criminology
biology.organism_classification
humanities
Article
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
State (polity)
Voting
Political science
mental disorders
030212 general & internal medicine
Cannabis
0305 other medical science
Law
health care economics and organizations
Legalization
media_common
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00914509
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Contemporary drug problems
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....118046ff24ec8888561adf1398dc68a2