A new poll shows that a majority of Pennsylvanians support marijuana legalization. Opposition has been cut in half since the last decade.

A majority of Pennsylvanians support legalizing marijuana—and opposition to the reform has fallen by nearly 50 percent over the last decade—according to a new poll.

The survey from the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion found that 52 percent of Pennsylvania adults back cannabis legalization—an issue that’s once again being debated in the legislature this session.

The institute’s latest survey found that opposition to legalization has dropped from 40 percent to 21 percent since 2013.

Majorities of Democrats and Independents (64%) as well as 39 percent of Republicans support the reform. There was either a plurality or majority of respondents in every survey demographic who supported the repeal.

This poll included interviews of 521 Pennsylvanian adults between March 10 and 26. The margin of error was +/- 5.5 percentage points.

The Commonwealth has been stepping up its efforts to legalize marijuana.

In Pennsylvania, bipartisan lawmakers have recently asked for their co-workers’ support on an upcoming bill legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania.

In a cosponsorship memo, Reps. Emily Kinkead (D) and Abby Major (R) touted the state’s “robust” medical cannabis program—but pointed out that “all but one of our neighboring states have legalized recreational adult-use cannabis.”

Kinkead, in a separate interview conducted recently, argued that legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania could help reduce the risks to public safety and health associated with illicit markets. These include the possibility that some unregulated products may be laced up with fentanyl.

In September last year, the lawmaker had introduced an independent bipartisan bill on marijuana legalization, along with 15 co-sponsors. The bill did not progress, though.

Meanwhile, a Republican Pennsylvania senator recently called for the creation of a state “legacy” fund, using tax revenue from adult-use marijuana sales and gaming to make long-term investments in the Commonwealth’s economy.

Senator argued, that the state, in addition to using tax revenues to finance day-today public projects, should also set aside a part of these tax dollars to create a “sustainable source of prosperity” that would last for many generations.

Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) recently said that Democrats are ready to pass a marijuana legalization bill this session, but that the party “will need Republican support” to get the job done—adding that it will be a “heavy lift.”

Another Democratic lawmaker said legislature is “substantially closer” to reaching a deal on marijuana legalization, and an initial vote on a bipartisan cannabis reform bill could come as early as this month.

In polls, there is bipartisan agreement on legalization, but it has been stalled by the GOP in the legislative branch, in part due to their opposition. But not all Republican members are against the policy change—and one recently said she felt her party should seize the “opportunity to snatch” the issue from Democrats.

Rep. Rick Krajewski (D)—who announced in December his intent to file a legalization measure alongside House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel (D)—also recently said the policy would provide for “more responsible usage” of cannabis, compared to the status quo that’s left adults either buying from the illicit market or traveling across state lines to get regulated products.

Separately last month, the Pennsylvania House approved a bill sponsored by Frankel that’s meant to strengthen safety standards and oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program as lawmakers work to advance adult-use legalization.

Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program, enacted almost a decade back, has now been sent to the Senate. Lawmakers say it is needed to improve the testing compliance, the product audits, the lab inspections, as well as other aspects of this industry.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would allow farmers and other small agriculture operators to sell marijuana they cultivate to existing growers and and processors if the state moves to legalize adult-use cannabis.

Separately, an independent Pennsylvania agency is projecting more tax dollars to be generated from adult-use marijuana sales compared to what the governor’s office has estimated, although it expects significantly less overall revenue from cannabis legalization due to differing views on licensing fees.

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Also, in a video interview released last month, the governor emphasized that the state is “losing out” to others that have already enacted adult-use legalization, while maintaining a policy that’s enriched the illicit market.

I think this is a matter of liberty and freedom. “I mean, people should be allowed to smoke in a legal and safe way, said he. “We should shut down the black market—and, by the way, every state around us is doing it. Pennsylvanians pay their taxes and drive into other states.

Pennsylvania’s Republican attorney general recently said he wants to be a “voice for potential public safety risks” of enacting the governor’s proposal—though he said his office would be ready to enforce the new law if lawmakers did vote to pass it.

The state’s agriculture secretary separately told lawmakers that he’s fully confident that his department is in a “really good” position to oversee an adult-use marijuana program if lawmakers act.

Meanwhile, in February, top Pennsylvania police and health officials told lawmakers they are prepared to implement marijuana legalization if the legislature moves forward with the reform—and that they stand ready to work together as the details of legislation to achieve it are crafted.

Amid the growing calls for marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania, a GOP state senator said prohibition has been a “disaster,” and a regulated sales model for cannabis—similar to how alcohol and tobacco are handled—could serve as an effective alternative.

A Republican Pennsylvania senator also recently defended the push to legalize and regulate marijuana, calling it “the most conservative stance” on the issue.

Separately, a recent poll shows that Pennsylvania voters say they favor a model where cannabis is sold by licensed private businesses, rather than through a system of state-run stores as some legislators have promoted.

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Philip Steffan provided the photo.