A Kent State University study, commissioned by WKYC-TV (the NBC affiliate in Cleveland owned by TEGNA), found that 58 percent of registered voters would support allowing adults in Ohio to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. The results are plus or minus 4 percent and offer a glimpse into what Ohio voters are weighing with Issues 2 and 3, both on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Issue 2 would prohibit using the Ohio Constitution to grant a monopoly, oligopoly or cartel for their exclusive financial benefit or to establish a preferential tax status, while Issue 3 would legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use.

Kent State’s Survey Research Lab and experts from the Department of Sociology and Department of Political Science in Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences recently fielded a survey of 500 registered voters in Ohio regarding both issues.

“We felt it was important to get a pulse on how people throughout the state are feeling before these issues go to the ballot,” says Micki Byrnes, WKYC president and general manager. “We knew that partnering with Kent State University’s Department of Sociology and Department of Political Science would provide us a fair and balanced look at what have become fairly controversial issues for all voters in the state of Ohio.”

The poll also found:

• 84 percent of Ohioans indicated they would “support allowing adults in Ohio to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it”
• 54 percent plan to vote “yes” on Issue 2 while 26 percent were undecided
• 56 percent plan to vote “yes” on Issue 3 while 10 percent were undecided
  

“If the election were held today and nearly all registered voters participated, both Issue 2 and Issue 3 would likely pass leading to a constitutional crisis,” says Ryan Claassen, associate professor in Kent State’s Department of Political Science. “About 57 percent of voters that plan to vote yes on Issue 2 also plan to vote yes for Issue 3.”

The entire WKYC-Kent State poll can be viewed at www.wkyc.com/local/marijuana-amendment.

For more information about Kent State’s Department of Sociology, visit www.kent.edu/sociology.

For more information about Kent State’s Department of Political Science, visit www.kent.edu/polisci.