Ohioans are broadly supportive of having marijuana dispensaries in the state, with a majority saying the industry is positively impacting the economy, according to a new poll.
Researchers at Ohio Northern University’s Institute for Civics and Public Policy (ICAPP) surveyed adults on a wide range of what it called “backyard issues,” including solar farms, multi-family housing and cannabis shops.
Overall, it found that 47 percent of respondents support the construction of marijuana dispensaries “whether in new buildings or by converting existing commercial buildings,” while just 28 percent said they’re against it. That seems to conflict with talking points from prohibitionists who’ve long argued that, while a majority of the public might support legalization in theory, they don’t want cannabis retailers in their communities.
The poll also found that a majority of Ohioans (61 percent) feel marijuana dispensaries are having a positive impact on the economy, while a plurality (41 percent) agree those retailers have improved quality of life.
Despite those findings, a plurality of respondents (37 percent) said that dispensaries have a negative impact on public safety, compared to 30 percent who said safety is improved with the businesses.
Fifty-four percent said the retail operations have a negative impact on
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