A poll that many Minnesota lawmakers pay close attention to finds Minnesotans split over the issue of legalizing recreational use of marijuana with 43.3% favoring and 48.1% against. The Minnesota House nonscientific poll of 7,607 State Fair attendees also found that an overwhelming number of those polled (66.4%) want to see e-cigarettes regulated just like regular cigarettes.
Minnesota’s legislature recently legalized medical marijuana, but it it is one of the most restrictive laws in the nation. The legislature failed to pass a bill that would have regulated e-cigarettes the same as regular cigarettes.
On voting issues the poll found strong support for Minnesota’s same-day voter registration system that is credited with giving Minnesota the highest turnout percentages in the nation. Minnesotans are apparently tired of constitutional amendments. In 2012 two amendments – one banning same-sex marriage and another requiring photo ID to vote – both were defeated in the general election. A majority of poll takers want to make it harder to put such constitutional amendments on the ballot. A question about restoring voting rights to convicted felons immediately when they are released from prison was split with a plurality against the idea.
Those responding to the poll also have no stomach for giving the NFL any additional tax dollars for the Super Bowl that is scheduled for Minneapolis in 2018. 70% said the state should refuse to provide any additional subsidies to the NFL.
The Senate also did a poll during the State Fair on other issues. Senate poll results are available here.
Full poll results:
SMOKING ISSUES
Should Minnesota allow the recreational use of marijuana for those age 21 and over? Yes……………………………………………43.3%…………..(3,277)
No……………………………………………48.1%………….. (3,640)
Undecided/No Opinion ………….. 8.7% …………….(656)
Should e-cigarettes be regulated the same as tobacco cigarettes?
Yes……………………………………………66.4%…………..(5,046)
No…………………………………………….23.4%…………..(1,778)
Undecided/No Opinion ………….. 10.2% ……………(772)
VOTING ISSUES
Should Minnesota do away with same-day voter registration; thereby requiring all voters to be registered before Election Day?
Yes …………………………………………. 25.8% …………..(1,957)
No…………………………………………….70.7%………….. (5,354)
Undecided/No Opinion ………….. 3.5% ……………..(266)
A simple majority is now needed for the Legislature to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. Should this threshold be increased?
Yes…………………………………………….51.6%…………..(3,903)
No……………………………………………..36.8%…………..(2,785)
Undecided/No Opinion……………..11.6%…………….(877)
A person convicted of a felony is not eligible to vote while serving any part of their sentence, including time in a correctional facility and also any time on probation, parole or other supervised release. Should the law be changed so a person convicted of a felony regains their right to vote immediately upon release from a correctional facility?
Yes…………………………………………….43.7%………….. (3,311)
No……………………………………………..47.2%………….. (3,572)
Undecided/No Opinion ……………. 9.1% …………….(690)
OTHER ISSUES
The Super Bowl is scheduled to be played in Minneapolis in 2018. Should the state refuse to provide any additional public subsidies to the NFL?
Yes……………………………………………..70.1%………….. (5,312)
No………………………………………………20.1%………….. (1,524)
Undecided/No Opinion …………….. 9.8% …………….(741)
Should employers be required to give veterans the opportunity to take Veterans Day off?
Yes……………………………………………..65.2%…………. (4,939)
No………………………………………………22.5%…………..(1,706)
Undecided/No Opinion ……………..12.3% ………….. (934)
Should liquor stores be permitted to open on Sundays?
Yes……………………………………………..64.1%………….. (4,863)
No………………………………………………27.5%………….. (2,085)
Undecided/No Opinion ………………8.4% …………….(634)
Consumers can now purchase lottery tickets and play scratch games online, at the gas pump or at an ATM-like machine. Should this be prohibited?
Yes……………………………………………..34.9%………….. (2,647)
No………………………………………………50.0%……………(3,791)
Undecided/No Opinion ……………..15.1% …………..(1,144)
Should public schools be required to provide swimming lessons to students in kindergarten through 12th grade?
Yes …………………………………………….38.4% …………..(2,904)
No………………………………………………49.6%………….. (3,757)
Undecided/No Opinion ……………..12.0% …………….(907)
Minnesota now imposes a sales tax on candy and soft drinks. Should the definition of taxable foods be expanded to include snack items such as chips, popcorn, cookies and ice cream novelties?
Yes …………………………………………….46.5% …………. (3,526)
No………………………………………………47.3%………….. (3,588)
Undecided/No Opinion ………………6.2% …………….(468)
Should the state’s gas tax be increased by 5 cents a gallon to help fund the backlog of highway and bridge needs around the state?
Yes …………………………………………….54.0% …………..(4,087)
No………………………………………………40.5%………….. (3,068)
Undecided/No Opinion ………………5.5% …………….(420)