A new statewide poll shows the majority of participants support a move to legalize medical marijuana in Georgia.

The poll, commissioned by local chapters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), surveyed nearly 800 Georgians across the state earlier this month.

Of those, 57 percent said they supported legalizing medical use of marijuana while 33 percent did not. Another 10 percent were unsure.

When asked whether they support decriminalizing the drug, 62 percent supported it while 32 percent opposed it.

Gov. Nathan Deal was asked this week about efforts underway in the General Assembly to legalize medical marijuana.

“I am not going to take a firm position on it; I think there’s a strong case being presented by some of the families with very serious situations involving their children,” he tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) hopes to have legislation ready to introduce this week that would legalize medical marijuana to treat medical conditions such as seizure disorders.

Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) has introduced a resolution to form a study committee.

Of those surveyed, 43 percent were Republicans while 37 percent were Democrats.  The other 20 percent identified as being Independent or other. More than half were women and 65 percent were white while 27 percent were black.