California voters are more supportive than ever of marijuana legalization and most want retailers in their communities, according to a poll.

A new poll shows that Californians are more supportive of legalizing marijuana than they were when the reform was approved at the 2016 ballot. And a majority of voters want cannabis retailers operating in their neighborhoods.

According to a survey released by the Public Policy Institute of California on Monday, 64 percent of California residents are in favor of legalizing marijuana. Likely voters support legalization even more, with 69 per cent.

Seven years ago, when legalization was up for a vote, it passed with a narrower majority of 57 percent.

Overall, the results of this new survey indicate that a supermajority (77%) of Democrats and Independents (76%) favor legalization. This is compared to the 42 percent of Republicans that support keeping cannabis prohibition out of the books.

More than three-quarters of Californians are in favor of legalizing marijuana. However, a smaller number (56%) say they would like to see adult-use retail outlets in their communities. Again, 60 percent of likely voters favor commercial activity in their neighborhood.

PPIC reported that “although marijuana is legal in California retail marijuana businesses are prohibited in 61 percent” of the cities and counties in the state. Just over half of Californians believe that retail sales of marijuana for recreational use should be permitted in their community or city. There is also a large partisan divide here, with a strong majority of Democrats and Independents in favor, compared to just one in three Republicans.

California has been at the forefront in US policy for #marijuana, with voters having approved its legalization in 2016. How do Californians feel now? PPIC’s @DEANintheYAY takes a look https://t.co/7F8KGHH4g0

Public Policy Institute of California 26 June 2023

When asked specifically about Proposition 64, the 2016 statewide ballot measure that legalized marijuana in California, respondents were generally in favor of reform. Sixty one percent of residents (and 65 % of likely voters), agreed that “the reform has turned out to be a mostly good thing for the State.”

Democrat and independents again were the most supportive at 75 and 72 percent respectively. Just 35 percent of Republicans agreed.

The PPIC study, conducted between May 17-24 and 1,576 adults and 1,062 likely electors, found that support for legalized marijuana in cities and communities is still strong, despite the challenges and concerns surrounding Proposition 64.

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A California Assembly committee approved a Senate passed bill that legalized marijuana cafes. This allows dispensaries to serve non-cannabis foods and drinks if they get local approval. This measure is similar to a separate proposal approved on the Assembly floor last month.

Last week, the state marijuana regulators announced that they had allocated $4.1 million to local cannabis licensing programs to help address the unmet demand of consumers and to curb the illicit market.

Last month, the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development announced separately that more than $50,000,000 in grants funded by marijuana taxes had been awarded to California communities.

DCC also awarded nearly $20,000,000 in research grants funded by marijuana taxes to 16 academic institutions for the study of cannabis, including novel cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, and genetics of “legacy strains” from the state.

California is also making efforts to extend its marijuana market outside of the state’s boundaries. Regulators are seeking an official opinion from the office of the attorney general on whether interstate marijuana commerce puts the state at “significant” risk for federal enforcement actions.

The governor’s signed law last year, which empowered him to enter agreements with other states that allow the importation and exportation of marijuana products.

Separately on Tuesday, a Assembly Committee approved a Senate passed bill that legalized the possession and facilitation of use of certain psychoactives.