Marijuana Posts A Major Win On The Campaign Trail

Marijuana is likely to become an inescapable issue for 2016 presidential hopefuls on the campaign trail.

The industry has grown by leaps and bounds since Barack Obama took office, and that has created some nervousness as a new administration prepares to take over. Many worry that Obama's decision to allow states to make and enforce their own laws regarding marijuana use will be reversed and that the industry could be completely eliminated.

Republicans Vote "Yes" For Pot

Candidates like Chris Christie and Marco Rubio have voiced their support for putting an end to the legal marijuana trade, but new polls show that the majority of voters aren't going to back such changes. Polls carried out by the reform group Marijuana Majority showed that the majority of GOP voters in several influential states wanted states to maintain the right to make their own decisions regarding marijuana policies:

• In Iowa, 64 percent of GOP voters supported states' rights to set marijuana laws.
• In New Hampshire, 67 percent of voters agreed with that initiative.

Related Link: Poll Shows Marijuana Use Up 40% Since 1969

What Does It Mean?

The figures don't bode well for contenders like Christie who have taken a hard line against marijuana use, though some political analysts say it is still uncertain just how important marijuana will be as an issue in the presidential race. Most candidates have voiced support for the growing marijuana market or have kept their views on the topic ambiguous.

So while the polls are likely to worry candidates who are planning to enforce federal laws and prosecute marijuana users in states like Colorado, they could persuade candidates on the fence to be more lenient when it comes to marijuana legalization.