Questions concerning voter support for legislators who endorse medical cannabis have been asked with much greater frequency in 2002.

This line of questioning first appeared in the February 2001 survey of Bernadillo County, New Mexico, residents (#37) by Delta-9. Thirty-five percent of respondents indicated that medical cannabis, along with hemp and general marijuana possession penalties, represented important factors in how they vote. Similar percentages appeared one year later in the Maryland Poll (#52).

More recent surveys, even though only months apart, have seen this percentage rise sharply. Respondents to the Ten State Poll (#56-65) were asked, "If your own state legislators or members of Congress vote for a bill to allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana with the approval of their physician, would you be more likely or less likely to vote for these elected officials in a November general election?" An astounding 68% cumulatively answered "More likely," with only 23.2% saying "Less likely." If no other finding in this review piques the interest of lawmakers, this one should. Fewer than one in four voters will more likely cast their ballot for a candidate that supports the current prohibition of medicinal cannabis. As many as two thirds of the voting populace will reward candidates who embrace this issue.