A large majority of North Carolina adults support legalizing medical marijuana, while a smaller majority also favors allowing recreational use, according to a new Elon University Poll released today.
The survey found that 75% of adults support legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, compared with just 11% who oppose the change. Another 14% were unsure. Support was even higher among registered voters, at 78%, and among likely voters, at 80%.
Recreational marijuana legalization also received majority support. Fifty-five percent of North Carolina adults said they support legalization for recreational purposes, while 30% were opposed and 15% were unsure. Among likely voters, support increased to 57%, with 33% opposed.
The results are largely unchanged from an Elon University Poll conducted in 2021, but show a substantial shift compared with earlier surveys. Opposition to recreational legalization stood at 51% in 2017 and 34% in 2021, compared with 30% among adults in the new poll. Opposition to medical marijuana legalization was 17% in 2017 and 18% in 2021, compared with 11% now.
The poll also examined North Carolinians’ views on intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, including seltzers and gummies.
Asked whether the state should allow or prohibit the sale of hemp-derived products containing enough THC to cause intoxication, 53% of adults said sales should be allowed. Twenty-eight percent favored prohibiting the products, while 19% were unsure.
At the same time, respondents overwhelmingly supported an age restriction. Eighty-two percent of adults said North Carolina should prohibit the sale or delivery of consumable hemp-derived products to anyone younger than 21. Just 9% said people under 21 should be allowed to purchase them, with another 9% unsure.
The marijuana questions showed significant partisan differences. Among registered voters, 89% of Democrats, 84% of independents and 57% of Republicans supported medical marijuana legalization. Recreational legalization was supported by 74% of Democrats and 57% of independents, compared with 33% of Republicans.
For intoxicating hemp products, 62% of Democrats and 56% of independents favored allowing sales, compared with 35% of Republicans. Republicans were the only partisan group in which a majority, 52%, favored prohibiting the products.
The survey was developed by the Elon University Poll and conducted online by YouGov from August 21 through August 31. YouGov initially interviewed 1,121 North Carolina adults, with respondents matched down to a final sample of 800. The margin of error for all adults was ±5.09 percentage points.
