Majority of Tennessee voters favor legalizing recreational cannabis | Vanderbilt Poll

Erin McCullough
·1 min read
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The majority of Tennessee voters favor legalizing recreational cannabis, according to the latest poll from Vanderbilt University.

The semiannual poll’s most recent survey found more than half the state’s voters support a woman’s right to an abortion, that there is significant bipartisan support of IVF procedures as well as modest gun control legislation, and that views about many state and national issues differ significantly by gender, as well as majority support for the full legalization of cannabis.

Cannabis’ popularity has grown significantly over time, with a 2018 poll by MTSU showing more than 80% of Tennesseans supporting some capacity of legal cannabis.

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Nearly all of the states that border Tennessee have legalized cannabis in some form—mostly for medicinal purposes. Kentucky is the latest neighboring state to approve a medical cannabis program. Lawmakers in the Bluegrass State approved its medical cannabis program in 2023. Missouri and Virginia both have full recreational weed approved.

Tennessee, meanwhile, has yet to get a medical cannabis program through the general assembly, despite bipartisan support. Republican Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) put forward legislation to create a medical cannabis commission multiple times over the last few years, though her bills have never made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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According to the latest Vanderbilt poll, more than half of Tennessee voters would favor full recreational use of cannabis in the Volunteer State, let alone medical usage.

According to Vanderbilt University, the survey was conducted among 1,003 registered Tennessee voters between April 26 and May 9.

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