National Support For Pot Legalization Grows To 44 Percent

Discussion in 'Marijuana Legalization' started by Superjoint, Feb 22, 2009.

  1. Zogby Poll: Nearly Six Out Of Ten West Coast Voters Support Taxing And Regulating Marijuana Like Alcohol
    National Support For Pot Legalization Grows To 44 Percent
    San Francisco, CA: A majority of west coast voters support regulating the sale of marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, according to national poll of 1,053 likely voters by Zogby International and commissioned by California NORML and Oaksterdam University.


    Fifty-eight percent of respondents residing on the west coast agree that cannabis should be "taxed and legally regulated like alcohol and cigarettes." Only thirty-six percent of west coast respondents oppose regulating the sale of marijuana for adults.


    Nationally, support for taxing and regulating cannabis stands at 44 percent. Among likely voters on the east coast, 48 percent endorse legalizing marijuana. Respondents' support fell to approximately 37 percent in the southern and central regions of the United States.


    In January, a national CBS/New York Times poll reported that 41 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana – up from just 27 percent in 1979.
    Responding to the latest Zogby poll, NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said, "Public support for replacing the illicit marijuana market with a legally regulated, controlled market similar to alcohol, complete with age restrictions and quality controls, continues to grow, and appears to have achieved majority support on the west coast – where many voters are already familiar with the state-licensed use and, in some cases, sale of medical cannabis."


    He added, "As voters and legislators continue to look for alternative ways to raise tax revenue for public services and reduce law enforcement costs in this troubled economy, we expect the public's support for taxing and regulating cannabis to continue to grow -- not just on the west coast, but nationwide."



    Nationally, younger voters age 18 to 29 are most likely (55 percent) to support regulating pot. Older voters age 50 to 64 are nearly evenly divided (48 percent) in their support for legalization.



    The poll found that a majority of registered Democrat voters (53 percent) back taxing cannabis, versus only 32 percent of Republicans.
    For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Dale Gieringer, California NORML Coordinator, at (415) 563-5858.
     
  2. 44% even with all the "above the influence" propaganda against pot. Just think what percent we could get that number to with some advertising and marketing of FACTS on behalf of pro-marijuana.
     
  3. Once it gets over 50% does it DRASTICALLY increase our chance of legalization, or does it not work that way? I'm assuming no since we dont live in a direct democracy
     
  4. The only real challenge, and it is substantial, is to get the Federal Government to back down on it's decades old stance on cannabis. The challenge today, however, in my mind, is far less than it was just 90 days ago, due to the new administration. It will still be a slow process, I am thinking. I could definitely be wrong on that, and I hope I am. A policy reversal like that would likely take adjustment time, but I believe we are on the right track.

    It would be very embarrassing for the Feds to tell everyone that all these years of effort they have devoted to trying to eradicate the use of a medicinal herb, all of the lives ruined, both by prosecuting people who possessed it, and keeping those that truly needed it from possessing it...all of the expense...all was for nothing, in the end.

    They know it. We know it. Even if 75% of us wanted cannabis legal, as long as the Feds maintain their head in the sand mentality, with a set of vice-grips on the abilities of actual scientists to study, and release their results, we will be hard pressed to see a change in our lifetime.

    With the new administration, however, let's hope that the inertia of ignorance can be overcome with the actions of the informed, and that the government can put logic before pride, and health before hindrance.
     

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