Ohio Voters Split on Same-Sex Marriage, Marijuana

Ohio voters are divided evenly on same-sex marriage and legalizing marijuana, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

 

The issues are gaining favor nationally, but still remain controversial, and the poll, the results of which were released Wednesday, show the same is true in Ohio, according to the Dayton Daily News.

 

The survey of 1,165 registered state voters Dec. 4-9 showed that 45 percent favor same-sex marriage and 47 percent oppose it. 

 

On the question of legalizing marijuana, voters were split right down the middle, with 47 percent for it and 47 percent against, the newspaper reported.

 

Support for gay marriage appeared to be strongest among women, college-educated voters, Ohioans making more than $100,000,  and younger voters ages 18-29.

 

Ohio voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, but they may get another chance to weigh in on the issue again next year, according to the Daily News. The Freedom to Marry campaign is collecting signatures for a 2013 ballot amendment  that would reverse the 2004 ban.

 

The strongest support for legalizing pot came from Democrats, African-Americans, people in households earning less than $50,000 a year, and voters younger than 45. 

 

But Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac polling institute, said Ohioans views on legalizing marijuana are a bit more conservative than nationwide attitudes.

 

Efforts to get marijuana approved for medical use in the state failed earlier this year.