The favorable climate for medical marijuana appears to have grown since September 11, 2001. The only national poll fielded since then (#50 by Zogby International), shows that the common two-thirds pro-medical marijuana plurality opposes the use of Federal law enforcement agencies to close patient cooperatives.

Other state polls reflect much higher favorable ratings for medicinal cannabis. The highest percentage belongs to a survey by Chamberlain Research Consultants for Is My Medicine Legal Yet (IMMLY) (#54) of Wisconsin in which 80% voiced support for passage of a medical marijuana law by the Wisconsin legislature. Similarly, 77% of Nevada voters (#63) say they support the state’s recently implemented medical marijuana initiative. It was approved twice by voters, once in 1998 (59%/41%) and again in 2000 (65%/35%).

2002 may represent a banner year for medical marijuana polling. By the end of March, sixteen separate polls have been conducted on this issue, including the Ten Sate Poll (#56-65) of voters in ten Western states and polls in Connecticut (#55), Maryland (#52), New Hampshire (#66), New Mexico (#51), Vermont (#53), and Wisconsin (#54). Consequently, with favorable percentages equaling almost three-quarters of respondents, bills have been introduced in the Maryland, Vermont, and Connecticut legislatures.