Survey shows majority of Hoosiers in favor of abortion, cannabis; ballot measures can give these issues a fair chance

INDIANAPOLIS – On Jan. 16, the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University released the results from the first round of the 2023 Hoosier Survey. The annual, non-partisan survey offers insight into the priorities of Hoosiers around the state and their responses to Indiana legislation.

Survey responses indicate that most Hoosiers are in favor of legalizing marijuana and allowing access to abortion in at least some cases. When asked, 54.2 percent of respondents stated marijuana should be legal for personal use, while 32.2 percent believed it should be used for medical purposes. On the topic of abortion, 31.3 percent of respondents answered that the procedure should be legal in all cases. 27.8 percent responded that abortion should be legal in most cases. These results are consistent with the 2022 Hoosier Survey results on abortion and cannabis, indicating Hoosiers are firm in their stances on these issues.

State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) released the following statement in response to the survey results:

”The data is clear; Hoosiers want access to abortions and cannabis legalization. And yet, Republicans continue to go against the will of the majority with their restrictive policies,” Errington said. “It's absurd that our Republican-led legislature continues do the exact opposite of what the Hoosier majority wants.

“My bill, House Joint Resolution 1, would allow the people of Indiana to have a direct hand in proposing legislation for our state. If Republicans continue to stifle the voices of Hoosiers, then we need to take action to ensure our ballots are representative of the issues impacting everyone in our state and have a fair opportunity to be enacted into law.”