Results from Cal NORML’s 2023 Priorities Survey are in!
Thanks to all who took the time to answer the survey and let us know what cannabis reform issues are important to you. Your answers will inform our decisions about where to put our energies on behalf of California’s cannabis consumers’ rights and safety in 2023.
Some key results:
TOP PRIORITIES
- 91% said legalizing at the national level was important, the top answer
- 87% said taxes should be eliminated for medical marijuana patients with an ID card or recommendation
- 76% said more affordable access for medical cannabis patients was important; another 17% said it was somewhat important
TAXES
- 73% said lowering taxes on cannabis products was important, with another 20% saying it was somewhat important
- 68% said that lowering the excise tax to 5 or 10% (from 15%) would make them more likely to buy cannabis products from legal outlets.
REGULATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
- 67% said easing regulations on small business and equity applicants was important; another 25% said it was somewhat important
- 49% said cracking down on illegal sellers was important; 27% said it was somewhat important, 17% said it wasn’t important and 7% were opposed
- 35% said cracking down on illegal growers was important; 22% said it was somewhat important, 30% said it was not important and 13% were opposed
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOUNGES
- 44% said opening more cannabis retail outlets was important; 38% rated it somewhat important
- 37% said opening cannabis lounges is important; another 30% said it was somewhat important
PARENTAL AND GUN RIGHTS
- 73% said protecting parents and expectant mothers from legal hassles for cannabis use was important; 19% said it was somewhat important
- 42% said allowing sales of firearms to cannabis users was important; 18% called it somewhat important, 25% said it wasn’t important and 15% were opposed
SAFETY
- 45% said better product labeling was important; 39% said it somewhat important and 14% said it was not important
- 8% said they had overdosed on cannabis badly enough to require medical attention, or they knew someone who did. Of those overdoses, 41% were caused by edibles, 18% by dabs or concentrates.
- 78% favored better labeling and packaging of products to prevent accidental overdose
- 17% enjoy artificially flavored vape concentrates.
VOTING WITH DOLLARS (AND OTHERWISE)
- 86% answered “Yes” (48%) or “Maybe” (38%) when asked, “When shopping for consumer or business products or services, does a company’s support of cannabis consumers’ rights affect your choice?”
- 80% said their vote was always or usually influenced by a candidate’s position on marijuana legalization, and 63% said they consulted Cal NORML’s Smoke the Vote guide before voting.
OTHER PRIORITIES
Respondents were asked to name priorities not mentioned in the survey. Those included: expand homegrow access, public use spaces, quality control of cannabis, better availability of medical grade flower strains, direct sales from small growers to medical patients, and overturn smoking bans in housing. Cal NORML is working on many of these issues also, at a state and local level.
