Watch: Young Voters React to Biden’s Marijuana Executive Order in Focus Groups

Washington, D.C. | Nov 2 – In HIT Strategies’ latest focus groups, young Democrats reacted to Biden’s executive order on marijuana, which pardoned simple possession and ordered a review of THC’s classification as a dangerous drug. Participants overwhelmingly supported the measure.

“Federal pardons for simple possession and reclassifying marijuana are positive developments for racial justice, which young voters care about deeply,” said Terrance Woodbury, HIT Strategies’ founding partner. “These policies help young people feel like their vote has power and makes a difference.”

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Young Voter Groups 

• BIPOC Youth Base: voters of color, ages 20-34, voted for Biden in 2020, always vote for Democrats, voted in 2016/2018 if eligible 
• White Youth Base: white voters, ages 20-34, voted for Biden in 2020, always vote for Democrats, voted in 2016/2018 if eligible 

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Selected Quotations: 

“I could appreciate what he’s doing, only because I feel like it could set an example for other countries as well, specifically Brittney Griner, you know what I’m saying? That could show, ‘Okay, cool. It’s a natural herb.’” – young Black woman, base Democrat on Biden’s executive order 

“Basically black and brown people are locked up for offenses, and locked away longer than those who aren’t. So I think it was definitely a tactic on his team’s end to attract his voter, his younger voters, as well as his minority voters to be more appealing. I like the initiative a lot.” – young Latina, base Democrat on Biden’s executive order 

“Biden doesn’t want weed criminals in prison anymore because it’s a waste of money and they’re not dangerous people and people in my neighborhoods smoke weed all the time and they don’t go to jail.” – young white man, base Democrat on Biden’s executive order 

“Yeah, war on drugs destroyed lots of people’s lives and disproportionately affected single races and is a systemic racist institution just feeding into the criminal justice system that we have now. It’s just another attribute to it – young white man, base Democrat on Biden’s executive order 

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About HIT Strategies    
As Washington’s leading millennial and minority-owned public opinion research company, HIT Strategies helps progressive leaders and organizations translate the values and attitudes of target audiences into real-time insights. We understand America’s fastest-growing electorate and consumer groups and specialize in targeting communities under-represented in public opinion, including Black Americans, Latino Americans, Millennials + Genz, LGBTQ+, Women, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Visit hitstrat.com and follow @HITStrat on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.  

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