Q Poll: Voters Support Medical Marijuana, Sunday Suds Sales, Malloy’s Teacher Tenure Reform

From today’s Quinnipiac Poll:

Connecticut Voters Back Med Marijuana, Sunday Liquor, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Malloy’s Approval Rating Improves, Almost Even

Connecticut voters support 68 – 27 percent a proposal to allow adults to use marijuana for medical purposes, with a physician’s prescription, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. There is no gender, partisan, income, age or education group opposed.

By a smaller 54 – 42 percent margin, voters want liquor stores to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. There are gender and partisan differences: Men support Sunday sales 60 – 37 percent while women are divided 48 – 48 percent. Support is 56 – 41 percent among Democrats and 57 – 40 percent among independent voters, while Republicans split 47 – 48 percent.

Connecticut voters oppose 63 – 35 percent allowing convenience stores at gas stations to sell beer. There is no group in favor of this idea.

Voters, however, would like more choice in alcoholic beverages at the supermarket
• 32 percent say supermarkets should sell only beer, as they do now;
• 43 percent say supermarkets should be allowed to sell beer and wine;
• 20 percent say supermarkets should be allowed to sell beer, wine and liquor.

“Connecticut may be the land of steady habits but no Sunday liquor sales is one habit voters are ready to kick,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

“Voters would like supermarkets to be allowed to sell wine, but don’t want to see convenience stores at gas stations sell beer. Perhaps this is out of concern for making it too easy to drink and drive.

“Medical marijuana is supported by Connecticut voters across the board.”

Connecticut voters give Gov. Dannel Malloy an almost-even 44 – 45 percent approval rating, his best score ever. Disapproval is 66 – 24 percent among Republicans and 48 – 40 percent among independent voters while Democrats approve 64 – 27 percent. Men are divided 46 – 46 percent while women disapprove 45 – 41 percent.

Voters support Gov. Malloy’s proposal to limit teacher tenure 54 – 35 percent. Support is 51 – 38 percent among Democrats and 47 – 41 percent among voters in union households.

Voters have an overwhelming 66 – 12 percent favorable opinion of public school teachers, but have a 32 – 27 percent unfavorable opinion of the teachers’ unions.

Teachers who do an outstanding job should get merit pay, voters say 67 – 28 percent, and it should be easier to fire bad teachers, voters say 62 – 31 percent. Voters in union households support both measures.

“Gov. Dannel Malloy’s overall approval rating is up slightly because he is doing better with Democrats. This lukewarm 44 – 45 percent score is not bad for a governor who raised the income tax across the board his first year to deal with an inherited deficit,” Dr. Schwartz said.

A legislative proposal to abolish the death penalty is a “bad idea,” Connecticut voters say 62 – 31 percent. Women say keep the death penalty 58 – 33 percent, while men support the death penalty 66 – 29 percent. Democrats back repeal of the death penalty 48 – 44 percent, as do self-described liberals 48 – 45 percent. No other group is against the death penalty.

And if the death penalty is abolished, those already sentenced to death should still be executed, voters say 58 – 35 percent.

“As we’ve seen in past Quinnipiac University polls, Connecticut voters still think abolishing the death penalty is a bad idea,” Schwartz said. “No doubt the gruesome Cheshire murders still affect public opinion regarding convicts on death row.”

From March 14 – 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,622 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.

Questionnaire here.