By Ramone Tarnaski

A recent poll of likely voters shows that Arizonans favor legalizing recreational marijuana use, AZ Central reports. A new poll by the Arizona Public Policy Foundation (APPF) and the University of Arizona found that support for Proposition 207 is highest among the 500 potential voters who will cast ballots in the November election.

Proposition 207 would impose a 16% excise tax on recreational marijuana sales and offer 26 retail licenses to those historically disadvantaged by marijuana laws. The Smart and Safe Arizona Act would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and allow the sale of cannabis to adults 21 and older at existing medical marijuana dispensaries. In addition, those who have already been convicted of crimes that would no longer be illegal under the law would be allowed to have their records erased from the judicial record.

Although the poll is fairly evenly distributed, it may underestimate the Republicans "2.4 percent advantage over the Democrats, given their 2 to 4 percent advantage in registrations. Democrats support the bill, with 59% of those surveyed saying they will vote for it. Republicans support the measure with only 30 percent, while independents support it with just 13 percent.

The campaign to pass the law has drawn almost all of its funding from medical marijuana dispensaries in Arizona. The poll also found a large majority in favor of the measure, with 50% saying they would vote in favor.