LOS ANGELES — Few people see legalized marijuana as a way to boost the economy and create jobs, according to an Associated Press-CNBC poll.
About a quarter of those polled said legalized pot would lead to more jobs in their communities; 57 percent said there would be no effect. About a third think the economy would improve, while 46 percent foresee no impact.
“I guess it could make money, but it would also cost money to prosecute people who get into trouble” for things such as driving under the influence, said Amanda Leonard, 37, of St. Augustine, Fla. “I think it would even itself out.”
Respondents under age 30, the group more apt to favor legalization, were most likely to see pot as a way to help the economy.
“I think with legalization, we are going to have bigger revenue,” said Roy Hernandez, 20, of Santa Monica, Calif. “I think it’s a benefit, moneywise, and it’s a benefit for the community because I think it would make the crime rate go lower.”
If marijuana were decriminalized, more Americans would favor private businesses selling it (54 percent) than the government (36 percent). But just 24 percent said they would be interested in investing in a company that sold pot.
And while 62 percent approve of states taxing the drug — with those from the West most likely to back the idea — only a third felt the levies would make a significant contribution to state budgets.
The April 7-12 phone poll of 1,001 adults had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
