When it comes to marijuana laws, Virginia is lagging behind and really doesn’t seem to be making any effort to catch up. But a recent poll from the Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) suggests residents are ready for some change—signaling that the majority of Virginians support medical marijuana.
“Of the 1,001 state residents surveyed Sept. 25-29, 71 percent said that the use of medical marijuana with a prescription should be legalized, with 23 percent believing that it should remain illegal and the rest were unsure,” according to a press release from the University of Mary Washington, who sponsored the poll.
Age definitely had something to do with the positive responses. While only 53% of those age 65 and older favored medical pot, 71% in the 45-54 age group, 73% of the 30-44 age group, and a whopping 84% of those ages 18-30 said they supported the legalization of medical marijuana.
The findings of the survey were a surprise, as our state has a relatively conservative base. While differences in marijuana opinions are expected in different age demographics, the fact that more than half of the oldest population still supported medical marijuana is a nice surprise.
Virginia has not taken any steps to create a medical marijuana system. In other states, patients are able to purchase and even grow marijuana to treat a variety of ailments. In locales like Colorado and Washington, they are able to possess marijuana for recreational use as well.
Attitudes about marijuana may be changing, but our state is moving noticeably slower than others. The Bullet says changes in popular opinion about marijuana are due in part to the changing population. More liberally-minded people are moving to the state as it is a hub for economic opportunity and federal and military workers who need to be near D.C.
Make no mistake, despite public opinion shifting in regards to marijuana, law enforcement in the state will still seek out people who violate current marijuana laws and prosecute them accordingly.
Whether you smoke for recreation or for a medical condition, you can be charged with marijuana crimes. Likewise, if you are found with a significant amount, you could face more serious charges of possession with intent to distribute or even trafficking.
If you’re accused of a marijuana offense, contact our offices today to discuss your case and how we might be able to help.
Let me know more about this because I been smoking since I was 10 yrs old this is vary important to me I been in more trouble with this in my life and I lived out in Ca and like to know what I can do to help make this happen. look me up on Facebook I will help in any way I can Andrew Reusch thanks.
Wat z gud abwt marijuana?
Thanks, Andrew. The best thing to do is support the local organizations that are working near you.
Check our Virgnia NORML, but there are probably other groups as well.
http://virginianorml.org/regional
Hopefully this great polling will get the local activists motivated to change the law!
Everything
The many medical uses of marijuana has already been proven extremely effective. One of it’s most common uses is for pain relief of many terminally ill patients. As for recreational use, it has many similar effects that alcohol has. As alcohol is legal, so should the use of pot. It is a strange thing as to how newspapers will seperate weed from drugs when reporting the news. This is of no coincidence. Look at the statistics… more people die from peanut allergies than marijuana! We have been misled by our government as to the lethality of mary jane! The tests that our government has performed showing the deadliness of pot in lab animals was grossly out of proportion. The average person would have to smoke 17 pounds…yes pounds of mary jane to overdose. How much alcohol has to be consumed to cause alcohol poisoning? One would certainly pass out before reaching that 17 pound mark.Why is it that our state cannot see this? It is because the government is making too much money putting it on the streets! It is time for a change my fellow americans! Look at the crime rate in our country compared to those countries where it is completely legal. Coincidence? Wake up America!