Poll: Connecticut should legalize small amounts of marijuana

By Ken Dixon
STAFF WRITER

HARTFORD -- Connecticut voters support decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, but in a weird twist on this emerging liberal agenda, they oppose allowing grocery stores to sell wine and distilled spirits, according to the new Quinnipiac University Poll.

The poll, released Tuesday morning, also shows voters support Sunday liquor sales, which have been proposed as a way to create new sources of state tax revenue.

When asked if they would favor a law similar to the statewide ballot initiative passed last November in Massachusetts -- making possession of less than a ounce of pot an infraction punishable by a small fine similar to a traffic ticket, rather than a misdemeanor that must be adjudicated and create a police record -- voters approved 58-37 percent.

Even voters over age 65 agree with the idea, although Republicans oppose it 51-44 percent. Democrats approve 68-30 percent, and unaffiliated voters support decriminalization 58-35 percent.

Douglas Schwartz, director of the poll, said it's the first time it has asked voters in any state their feelings about decriminalizing marijuana.

"There is interest," he said of support for reducing penalties for possession.

Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said in an interview Tuesday that the poll reinforces legislation he has proposed this year that would mirror Massachusetts' marijuana possession law.

"This is pretty substantial," Looney said of the 58 percent approval rating. "The change in Massachusetts was passed with over 60 percent of voters in favor. Clearly the public sees this as a reasonable idea to prioritize within the criminal justice system."

Looney's bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Toni N. Harp, D-New Haven, has been raised in the Judiciary Committee, but a public hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Last year Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed a so-called medical marijuana bill, which Looney said is entirely different from the decriminalization bill. The medical marijuana had a procedure for authorizing people to grow the weed in violation of overriding federal law.

"I think it has a chance this year partly because the public seems ahead of politicians on this issue," Looney said, adding that an estimated $15 million could be saved in Connecticut by freeing public defenders and prosecutors from handling low-level pot possession cases.

The poll found that voters approve Sunday alcohol sales by 54-44 percent, although the poll found a "substantial" gender gap, with men supporting the sales by 62-37 percent. Women are nearly evenly split. Package store owners recently went to the Capitol to defeat legislation that would allow Sunday sales.

"Although Connecticut is known as the land of steady habits, Nutmeggers appear willing to change the law so that Connecticut package stores can sell alcohol on Sunday," Schwartz said.

In an apparent inconsistency in the otherwise liberal reaction to questions on social issues, voters oppose allowing grocery stores to sell wine and distilled spirits by 58-39 percent.

The Q Poll surveyed 1,238 Connecticut registered voters from March 3 to 8, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

The poll found Rell's approval rating remains high, 75 percent, and voters approve, by 61-28 percent, the way she's handling the budget crisis.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal enjoys an 81 percent job-approval rating.۩