POLL SHOWS OHIOANS FAVOR CASINOS, MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Columbus -- Ohioans favor casino gambling and marijuana used for
medical purposes, but they oppose lowering the drinking age,
abolishing the death penalty and legalizing gay marriage.

That's according to the latest Ohio poll released by the University
of Cincinnati May 8. The university's Institute for Policy Research
polled 818 Ohioans in April on a variety of social issues.

A total of 60 percent of respondents said they favored making
casino-style gambling legal in Ohio.

That result is comparable to past Ohio Polls, but does not mean
voters will back specific casino issues on the ballot, said Eric
Rademacher, co-director of the institute.

According to a release, "While the Ohio Poll has found in the past
that a majority of Ohio adults approve of casino gambling in major
cities near their home, the poll has also found Election Day voters
unwilling to approve ballot issues that would lead to the
legalization of gambling in the state.

"This has been reflected in election day outcomes over the past decade."

Other results of the poll included:

* 73 percent of respondents support allowing Ohio doctors to
prescribe medical marijuana to patients. But 61 percent said they
opposed making marijuana use generally legal in the state.

* 78 percent said they opposed lowering the drinking age to 18 from 21.

* 70 percent opposed abolishing Ohio's death penalty.

* 56 percent said they opposed marriages between couples of the same
sex in Ohio.