Poll: Virginians divided over legalizing marijuana

An overwhelming majority of voters in Virginia support the legalization of medical marijuana, but are divided over legalizing pot for recreational use, according to a new poll.

The survey released by Quinnipiac University on Monday found 84 percent of Virginia voters back medical marijuana.

Meanwhile, 46 percent support legalizing marijuana for personal use, with 48 percent opposing that move.

Any use of marijuana in Virginia is now illegal.

{mosads}A majority of 18- to 29-year-olds support legalizing marijuana for personal use, but that support drops among older people. Two-thirds of Virginia voters 65 and older, for instance, oppose legalizing pot.

The poll found nearly half of Virginia voters say marijuana is equally as dangerous as alcohol, while 36 percent say it’s less dangerous.

Quinnipiac also surveyed voters’ opinions of same-sex marriage in Virginia, which became legal in February after a federal judge overturned the state’s ban. 

Nearly 70 percent of voters under 30 support same-sex marriage, and at least 50 percent of people ages 30 to 64 support it. But more than half of people 65 and older oppose the law.

The poll was conducted March 19 to 24 and surveyed 1,288 voters.