K-STREET, 10,000 FEET: Exclusive poll shows support growing for cannabis reform among Republicans

THE LOWDOWN:

• New polling, conducted by Forbes Tate Partners on behalf of Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR), found that there is “strong support for the STATES 2.0 Act (61% support vs. 27% oppose) and allowing states to decide (69% support vs. 22% oppose).”

• The CPEAR poll comes as Washington is deliberating possible cannabis reform on a federal level, and CPEAR’s findings suggest that the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act could be a solution.

• The STATES 2.0 Act is a bipartisan bill backed by Reps. Dave Joyce (R., Ohio), Max Miller (R., Ohio), and Dina Titus (D., Nev.) that would, according to Joyce, “ensure that each State has the right to determine for itself the best approach to cannabis within its borders.”

• Joyce’s office explained that, critically, the STATES 2.0 Act “amends the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801) (CSA) to respect the will of each state and no longer classify marijuana as a substance covered by the CSA, that is manufactured, produced, possessed, distributed, dispensed, administrated, or delivered in compliance with State and Tribal law, while also ensuring states that opt to maintain prohibition receive federal support and assistance for this enforcement.”

A growing number of conservatives and Americans back a policy that cannabis reform advocates call a “states’ rights approach to cannabis policy,” according to a new national poll obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter.

New polling, conducted by Forbes Tate Partners on behalf of Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR), found that there is “strong support for the STATES 2.0 Act (61% support vs. 27% oppose) and allowing states to decide (69% support vs. 22% oppose).”

The CPEAR poll comes as Washington is deliberating possible cannabis reform on a federal level, and CPEAR’s findings suggest that the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act could be a solution.

CPEAR’s poll shows that backing legislation like the STATES 2.0 Act is also good politics.

“A near majority (48%) would be MORE likely to vote for a candidate who supports reforming federal cannabis law,” the group noted. “Only 15% would be LESS likely, and 26% say it depends on other issues.”

The STATES 2.0 Act is a bipartisan bill backed by Reps. Dave Joyce (R., Ohio), Max Miller (R., Ohio), and Dina Titus (D., Nev.) that would, according to Joyce, “ensure that each State has the right to determine for itself the best approach to cannabis within its borders.”

Joyce’s office explained that, critically, the STATES 2.0 Act “amends the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801) (CSA) to respect the will of each state and no longer classify marijuana as a substance covered by the CSA, that is manufactured, produced, possessed, distributed, dispensed, administrated, or delivered in compliance with State and Tribal law, while also ensuring states that opt to maintain prohibition receive federal support and assistance for this enforcement.”

Shanita Penny, the executive director of CPEAR, explained that legislation like the STATES 2.0 Act is “not about expanding federal power, it’s about limiting it.”

“The STATES 2.0 Act respects the will of voters, reinforces states’ rights, and ensures law enforcement can focus on real public safety threats — not outdated cannabis laws,” she said. “It’s time for Congress and the administration to act on a policy the American people clearly support.”

CPEAR noted that these numbers are actually “slightly higher than our last national poll on the issue (67% support vs. 25% oppose).”

“All components of the STATES 2.0 Act test well but as we have found before, preventing youth use, stopping DUI, and addressing crime are the most important,” CPEAR said.