Table 1.

Sample text-based political messages used in study

Message	Source
(a) Example messages against marijuana legalization
Legalizing marijuana could lead us to be soft on crime. A lot of times when you look at the underlying charge—it wasn’t just that they smoked a joint, it’s that they smoked a joint and then beat an elderly woman over the head with a pistol.	Senate candidate J. D. Vance (via the recount twitter)
We should not be legalizing marijuana. The drug cartels out of Mexico have absolutely wrought havoc throughout California forests and 27 other states throughout our great nation by growing black market illegal unregulated cannabis.	American Legislative Exchange Council
Today, marijuana trafficking is linked to a variety of crimes, from assault and murder to money laundering and smuggling. Legalization of marijuana would increase demand for the drug and almost certainly exacerbate drug-related crime, as well as cause a myriad of unintended but predictable consequences.	The Heritage Foundation
Legalization of cannabis for adult use is associated with increased traffic fatalities, exposures reported to poison control (including infants and children), emergency department visits, and cannabis-related hospitalizations. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of cannabis use in pregnant people is most concerning.	The American Medical Association
(b) Example Messages For Marijuana Legalization
Black and white people use marijuana at the same rates, but Black people are six times more likely to go to jail for it. It makes no sense. We should be proud to vote to legalize marijuana and wipe the slate clean for marijuana-related convictions and arrests.	Senate candidate Tim Ryan
Polls show that a strong and growing majority of Americans agree it is time to end cannabis prohibition. Nationwide, a recent Gallup poll found that 66% support making marijuana use legal for adults.	Marijuana Policy Project
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are arrested each year for marijuana-related offenses, the vast majority of which are for simple possession. By legalizing marijuana, government resources could be better spent on things like testing untested rape kits or investing in human needs such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and activities for at-risk teens.	Marijuana Policy Project
America’s nearly 100-y experiment with cannabis criminalization has been an abject failure.	NORML

Note: Messages were typically edited slightly and are not always verbatim quotes from the source.