New 2018 poll shows elevated support for legalization and above national averages

(Albuquerque) – Sixty-three percent of New Mexicans support the legalization of cannabis for social use, according to a new survey conducted by Research & Polling Inc.

The survey shows New Mexicans support the legalization of cannabis above the national average, which was reported at 61 percent in January 2018.

A remarkable finding from the new survey is New Mexicans are solidifying their stance on cannabis legalization, as 46 percent now strongly support cannabis legalization compared to 40 percent in the 2016 survey.

Both the 2016 and 2018 studies were completed by Research & Polling Inc., New Mexico’s largest full-service market research and public opinion research company. Headed by Mr. Brian Sanderoff, President, the company has a wide variety of national and New Mexico clients.

The percentage of New Mexicans in favor of cannabis legalization jumped even higher to 67 percent when told the tax money from legalization would be funneled into healthcare and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

Forty-five percent of New Mexicans believe public school education should be the highest priority for how additional state revenue from cannabis legalization is used, followed by drug and alcohol education and rehabilitation programs and law enforcement at 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

The category with the most fluctuation from the 2016 survey was law enforcement, with 8 percent of respondents choosing law enforcement as their top priority in 2016 compared to 17 percent today. This is a reflection of New Mexicans’ growing concerns about crime in the state.

In addition, 78 percent of New Mexicans support The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, which legalized cannabis for medicinal use in 2007. This is up from the 71 percent approval rating in 2016.

The rapid enrollment trends seen in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program show no signs of stopping, as 10 percent of New Mexicans reported they were very likely and another 6 percent said they were somewhat likely to apply for a medical cannabis card in the next two years.

This realistically translates to an additional 100,000 patients in the program on top of the current enrollment of 52,260 patients.

Roughly 1.6 million adults live in New Mexico as of July 1, 2017, and thus 16 percent of adults   equates to an additional 255,245 cardholders by 2020, given their survey response to “likelihood of applying to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program in the next two years.” These numbers do not include those patients who already have a medical cannabis card.

Although many people claim they are likely to take part in a certain program or activity, fewer actually do so for various reasons, which is typical in survey research.

The increasing number of patients enrolling in the program coupled with 16 percent of New Mexicans who are likely to apply for a card in the next two years only deepens the need for an adequate supply of cannabis statewide.

A press conference to discuss the survey’s findings with the media will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 22 at the New Mexico State Capitol. Brian Sanderoff of Research and Polling Inc., the Drug Policy Alliance, Ultra Health, and Representative Javier Martinez will be in attendance.