Attitudes toward marijuana use appear to be slightly changing in Wyoming. The Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center’s election year survey revealed an increase in support for legalizing marijuana for both personal and medical use.
However, WYSAC researcher Brian Harnisch said residents view each of those issues differently.
“A majority of Wyoming residents still oppose the recreational use of marijuana,” said Harnish. “While at the same time we have sort of an overwhelming majority of Wyoming residents that support the legalization for medical purposes.”
Since 2014, support for legalizing marijuana for personal use increased from 37 percent to 41 percent, while support for legalizing marijuana for medical purposes with a doctor’s prescription has increased to 81 percent.
Harnisch said the survey also asked about decriminalizing marijuana. He said 72 percent of Wyoming residents responded that those convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana should not serve time in jail. The survey interview 722 Wyoming residents in early October and has a margin of error of 3.6 percent.