A new poll released today by Georgia NORML and Peachtree NORML claims that 54% of Georgians favor legalization of marijuana similar to Colorado and Washington State, while an even larger 62% believe possession of pot in amounts less than 1 oz should be de-criminalized, with violators instead paying a $100 civil fine.

Note again that this is Georgia voters. Here. In the Bible belt.

So I guess we’ll assume that PPP polls oversampled millennials? Nope, they’re 9% of participants. Two thirds of the participants in the poll were over the age of 45.

That’s a significant change in public opinion over the last decade, even here in Georgia. And it is already starting to show up in policy. The Governor’s criminal justice reform packages have specifically talked about the costs to taxpayers as well as the cost in future lost income for those with minor criminal charges on their “permanent record”. Meanwhile, other states are starting to cultivate an industry which employs people, pays taxes, and draws tourists. It appears some of Georgia’s voters are taking notice.