Poll: Most think marijuana legalization hurts Colorado image

Fifty-one percent of Colorado voters think legalization of marijuana has been bad for the state’s image a little more than a year after it was approved, a new poll finds. 

According to a Quinnipiac poll released Monday, only 38 percent of voters think the policy has been beneficial to Colorado’s image, while 10 percent do not know. 

{mosads}The numbers comes as a majority — 58 percent — continues to support the law. Support for the law has actually increased 4 points since last August. 

Democrats and young people are the only two demographics in which majorities believe legalization has been good for the state’s image. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats — and an equal number of voters aged 18 to 29 — think it has helped Colorado’s image. 

Independents believe legalization has been bad for Colorado’s image by a 56 percent to 36 percent margin. Republicans think it has had a negative impact by a 73 percent to 18 percent margin. 

Women are slightly more likely than men — 55 percent to 48 percent — to believe it has had a bad impact on the state’s image. 

The number of voters who believe legalization hurts Colorado’s image increases with age. Forty-five percent of voters aged 30 to 49 believe it has been bad, but that number increases to 67 percent for those aged 65 and up. 

Despite image concerns, 53 percent approve of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s (D) handling of marijuana policy. 

Earlier this year, the state became the first to begin allowing the sale of the drug after it and Washington approved of legalization in ballot initiatives in 2012. 

The poll surveyed 1,139 Colorado voters early this month and has a 2.9 percent margin or error.