A recent poll conducted on behalf of a Utah medical marijuana advocacy group indicates that most Utah residents would support a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana. The survey results show that 52% of voters favor such a measure—the same percentage that approved medical marijuana in the state in 2018.
Despite the survey results, Alex Iorg, co-founder of Wholesome Co. and a member of the newly formed group “Keep Utah Medical,” believes the state is not yet ready for recreational cannabis.
He suggested that unless the medical program is improved, broader legalization may become inevitable. “If we don’t make it easier for patients to access medical cannabis here, it’s only a matter of time,” Iorg said, pointing out that similar trends have played out in neighboring states that started with medical programs before fully legalizing.
The group is not planning to push for recreational legalization, even as surrounding states have already done so. The group aims to improve the state’s medical marijuana program by making it more accessible for patients and reducing barriers that drive people to illegal sources or out-of-state purchases.
The poll, conducted earlier this month by Noble Predictive Insights, sampled 609 Utah registered voters. It found that 52% of respondents would support a measure to legalize recreational marijuana, while 38% were against it, and 9% remained undecided. These numbers reflect a shift in public attitude toward marijuana use since the legalization of medical marijuana.
The poll results may serve as a wake-up call to Utah lawmakers about potential future shifts in marijuana laws. Although the state legislature recently passed modest expansions to the medical marijuana program, the proposals faced strong opposition from socially conservative groups, many of whom were against medical legalization from the start.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a significant influence in Utah politics, opposed medical marijuana in 2018 and has also resisted recreational legalization efforts in other states.
Moreover, two of Utah’s top legislative leaders, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate Leader J. Stuart Adams, have already expressed their opposition to a recreational cannabis initiative.
The survey further highlights that conservative and LDS voters generally disapprove of legalizing recreational cannabis, while non-LDS, liberal, independent, and moderate voters, are more likely to support it.
Mike Noble of Noble Predictive Insights noted that Utah’s conservative base is more politically organized than progressives, meaning any push for full legalization could face strong resistance from traditionalist groups determined to block such efforts.
The cannabis industry around the region, including firms like Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) (TSX: TLRY) will be watching how the policy reform efforts in Utah play out over the coming months and years.
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