Poll: New Yorkers favor medical marijuana, fear gas drilling

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) - A Cornell University poll finds a majority of New Yorkers favor legalizing medical marijuana.

The Empire State Poll from Cornell's Survey Research Institute interviewed 800 New Yorkers between Feb. 1 and March 29. It asked if they favor or oppose medical marijuana and natural gas drilling in New York.

Legislation to legalize medical marijuana has been introduced for more than a dozen years in New York. It didn't make it to the floor for a vote this year.

Fourteen other states allow the use of marijuana for patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions.

The poll also found more than half of those surveyed feel that the risk of contaminating drinking water outweighs the financial benefits of natural gas drilling in southern New York. Sentiment against drilling was stronger in the New York City area than upstate.

wcax.com