Colorado and Washington Residents Have a Love/Fear View of Legalized Marijuana, According to New Avvo Survey

SEATTLE, March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Avvo, Inc., the web's largest legal Q&A forum, directory and legal marketplace (http://www.avvo.com), today announced the results of a new survey of nearly 2,200 consumers from Colorado and Washington that reveals what they think about the legalization of recreational marijuana. Sixty-seven percent of Colorado and 71% of Washington residents support a legal marijuana business opening up in their neighborhood. Forty-three percent plan to make a marijuana purchase in the future, and 70% of them believe that, in the not-too-distant future, bringing pot to a dinner party will be as routine as a bottle of wine.

While Colorado and Washington residents are welcoming the businesses, they do have concerns: 43% are very worried about kids having greater access to marijuana, and 42% are very concerned about increased numbers of people driving under the influence of marijuana. Concerns about increased crime was a distant third at 26%.

"As the growing number of states with marijuana-legalization ballot initiatives indicates, pot is gaining social acceptance across a wide swath of demographics, even with shared concerns about kids having great access to the drug," said Leigh McMillan, vice president of marketing & research, Avvo, Inc. "Somewhat akin to the social movement after the end of prohibition, legalized marijuana will likely follow a similar trajectory as cannabis becomes socially accepted and new businesses emerge."

Other Survey Findings

• Even with increasing acceptance, smoking pot in front of the kids is still taboo: 89% of survey respondents would not consider it, including 75% of those who intend to purchase pot in the future.
• 38% of the pot smoking population has had, or has known someone who has had legal issues as a result of smoking pot.
• Whether or not it's ease of procurement or perceived social stigma, 71% of survey respondents would consider using a private delivery service to purchase and receive legal marijuana.

About Avvo, Inc.

Avvo.com is the web's largest legal marketplace for consumers and attorneys.  In Avvo's Q&A forum consumers can get free legal advice 24/7 from more than 175,000 participating lawyers, and Avvo's directory provides comprehensive profiles, client reviews, peer endorsements and the industry-recognized Avvo Rating for more than 95 percent of all lawyers in the U.S.  Avvo helps lawyers grow their business with Avvo Ignite, a cloud-based marketing platform and website solution designed specifically for attorneys. Founded in 2007, Avvo is privately held with funding from Benchmark Capital, Ignition Partners and DAG Ventures. 

Avvo and Avvo Ignite are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avvo, Inc.

* An online survey of 2,167 consumers who used Avvo.com in the past year.

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SOURCE Avvo, Inc.