Poll shows Washington voters split on legalizing marijuana

wanderingway · Jan 5, 2012

I can understand the worries some may have in regards to legalizing. For as long as we have been alive, it has been illegal and it is a huge change. I really can only see good come out of this. I see consumers purchasing locally grown cannabis as well as buying grow kits to be able to grow their own. I see it creating jobs and reducing crimes significantly.

Washington voters appear split on the prospect of marijuana legalization as the issue heads to the state Legislature next week.

A new Elway Research poll released Wednesday shows the softest support yet for Initiative 502, which would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana sales, with 48 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. The margin of error is 5 percentage points.

Other polls, both statewide and nationwide, have shown rising enthusiasm for legalization. A KING-TV/Survey USA poll in November, asking about specific provisions in I-502, found 57 percent approval and strong support among baby boomers.

The recent Elway poll, asking more general questions about legalization, found the strongest support among younger and more educated voters. But pollster Stuart Elway said he found support had weakened since his poll in July, when 54 percent endorsed legalization.
"If you're a supporter, it's going the wrong way," he said.

The I-502 campaign, called New Approach Washington, turned in more than 341,000 signatures last month - far more than the number of valid signatures required to send the initiative to the Legislature in January. If lawmakers balk, the initiative would head to the November general-election ballot, giving Washington voters their first chance to vote on legalization.

The initiative would raise an estimated $215 million from heavily taxed and regulated sales at privately owned, state-licensed marijuana stores. The state Liquor Control Board would gain authority to license grow farms and cannabis food processors.

Legalization is also likely to be on the 2012 presidential ballot in Colorado, and campaigns are under way in California, Oregon, Missouri and other states.

Alison Holcomb, campaign director for New Approach, noted the Elway poll question was broadly worded, without mentioning provisions in I-502 that are popular with voters - including restricting sales to people at least 21 years old and earmarking marijuana-tax revenue for health and drug-abuse-prevention programs.

"Our research over the years has shown us that voters really care about what the details are," she said.
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Local News | Poll shows Washington voters split on legalizing marijuana | Seattle Times Newspaper

xdog · Jan 6, 2012

I'm pretty sure the Washington iniative does not allow home growing, gotta buy it from a licensed store.

Smoke on water · Jan 6, 2012

Woah Woah... I live in WA. If this passes, will marijuana be legalized completely at the state level??

wanderingway · Jan 6, 2012

Key Features of Initiative Measure No. 502

Initiative Measure No. 502 will replace Washington's ineffective and unjust marijuana laws with a regulated public health approach that will redirect law enforcement resources to more pressing priorities, generate new tax revenues for critical social services, and take marijuana out of the hands of violent drug cartels.

Distribution to adults 21 and over through marijuana-only stores that are licensed and regulated through the state Liquor Control Board

Production and processing of marijuana also licensed and regulated by the LCB, and restricted to Washington businesses

Tight advertising restrictions

Estimated $215 million in new excise, B&O, and retail sales tax each year1, with roughly $80 million going to state general fund and $135 million earmarked:

Evidence-based prevention strategies targeting youth, chosen in consultation with UW Social Development Research Group2

Dedicated funding stream for Healthy Youth Survey3

Washington's Building Bridges program for at-risk youth4

Science-based public education materials regarding health risks of marijuana use hosted by UW Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute5

Research by UW and WSU into the short- and long-term effects of marijuana use, including driving impairment

Dedicated marijuana Quitline analogous to tobacco Quitline operated by state Department of Health6

Additional marijuana-related public health educational programs administered by Department of Health at the state and local level

Biennial evaluation of impacts of law by Washington State Institute for Public Policy7

Washington's Basic Health Plan

Community health centers

New marijuana DUI threshold of 5 ng/mL THC blood concentration8

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