Most Tennessee voters support legal marijuana, according to poll
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Most Tennesseans favor legalizing marijuana for recreational use, according to a new poll of registered voters.
Why it matters: The finding, which was included in last week's Vanderbilt poll, is emblematic of a broader cultural shift as other states have embraced legalization and the Biden administration moves to ease federal marijuana restrictions.
By the numbers: Sixty percent of Tennessee voters support legalizing recreational marijuana, according to the poll.
- John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt poll, tells Axios there are "strong party differences," with Democrats much more likely to support legalization.
Zoom in: Some Tennessee lawmakers are more willing to consider medical marijuana here. But it still faces resistance from leading Republicans.
- Although Tennesseans have limited access to some CBD oil and hemp products, broader attempts to legalize medical marijuana in recent years have fizzled in the face of Republican opposition.
- Leaders remain firmly against recreational marijuana.
The big picture: Marijuana use is increasingly prevalent in the United States. A study published last week found daily marijuana use has outpaced daily alcohol consumption in the U.S. for the first time.
The latest: The Biden administration has recently taken steps to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The proposal would move marijuana from Schedule I, which includes heroin and LSD, to a less dangerous Schedule III designation.
- That could clear the way for more research and could create legal protections for medical marijuana users.
What they're saying: "I think this is an excellent move on the federal government's part. It needs to happen," Tennessee House Republican Caucus chair Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) told the Tennessean.
- Faison proposed a bill in 2018 that would have allowed medical cannabis prescriptions to treat some conditions in Tennessee. He said reclassification opened the door to a safer way to treat pain.
- "There are many Tennesseans who have been safely using the cannabis plant for various and sundry reasons. This allows research now to prove the overwhelming anecdotal evidence that cannabis is a viable option for people who are sick."
Yes, but: Gov. Bill Lee told reporters earlier this month that the federal proposal "doesn't change the situation in our state."
- Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said serious conversations about legalizing marijuana for medical use would only begin if the reclassification becomes official, per the newspaper.
How it works: The latest Vanderbilt poll was conducted April 26-May 9 and included 1,003 registered Tennessee voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.4 percentage points.