The Economist released a new poll today showing clear majority support among Americans for legalizing marijuana.
In the poll, every age group showed greater support than opposition for legalization, including those 65 and older. Republicans and Democrats are both more likely to support than oppose legalization.
Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and a former Baltimore narcotics cop, said, "With more and more people supporting an end to marijuana prohibition, legislators are going to be feeling increasing pressure to actually change these laws. It's becoming clear that we can no longer afford - both financially and in terms of human lives - the cost of waging this war on a plant. And, soon, those lawmakers who are reluctant to support modernizing our marijuana laws will feel the political costs of their refusal to act. "
Here's The Economist's report on the poll: http://www.economist.com/node/18118857?story_id=18118857
And here's the full poll: http://media.economist.com/images/pdf/Toplines20110208.pdf
HELL YEAH! the end of marijuana prohibition is soon... I CAN NOT WAIT! oh i'm so excited.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this shows up in polls, but as soon as they take it to the ballots, people change their mind. Specially the elderlies. If 80% claimed to be in favor, 16% will actually vote in favor.
ReplyDeleteThe young people are worse. They're usually the biggest supporters but they never even bother voting. You always get like a 25% voting score from youngsters.
The end of prohibition, as miraculous as it may be, won't come unless what you get on the polls is what you get on the ballots. And even then, good luck getting insurance companies, work environment and privatized institutions to let you consume. Insurance companies won't cover you if you come out positive, work-place management can still fire you if you come out positive.
I'm doing my best to spread the truth about it, to make people end this. But even when legalization comes, if it does, there's going to be a lot of change needed before things settle down.
The US Government should overcome its own "denial" with respect to Medicinal Cannabis, which can serve as a safe alternative to many pharmaceutical chemicals on the market. I believe it is very positive that the President acknowledges the "validity" of this debate. Whenever the validity of the debate is recognized, such a "recognition" invariably implies that our side has a "valid argument"; this being so, it follows that our side (in favor of Cannabis/Medicinal Cannabis Legalization) has a very real possibility of winning this "perfectly legitimate debate", for otherwise it would not be a "debate". For example, to even suggest that Cannabis Plant has no medicinal properties is not even a "rational" thing to do; as a "recreational" substance, Cannabis is incomparably safer than alcohol! Few people even know that one out of five people in Britain are expected to live to 100 years old, while Cannabis consumption in Britain is the highest in Europe. Look at Canada where the Cannabis "laws" are much more "liberal" than in the United States, yet the criminality, and especially violent crime, are much lower than in this country. And if all this were not enough, it is scientifically proven that Cannabis use (as opposed to alcohol use) suppresses violent urges and behaviors. All this is true even if the President is "personally opposed" to legalization (at least for now). But we cannot sit on our butts and passively expect positive developments to occur. We must participate actively, write comments at the news articles, write to politicians, sign petitions, register to vote, etc. Let's ask our politicians why, in this time of rising deficits, they would rather talk about taxing mother's milk than about slashing the so-called "marijuana enforcement" budget! I specifically urge all the young people to talk to their parents and grandparents and educate them about Cannabis vs. alcohol and hard drugs. As the logical evidence in our favor inexorably accumulates, the "qualitative shift" will occur in our common consciousness, and we will win this "perfectly legitimate" debate!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I totally support medical marijuana and it's use we have to remember why we are held back, it's still and always be about "The Money". Always follow the money to find out who's pulling the strings.
ReplyDeleteThe government needs to back the people instead of using power to control them, It's still "We The People" not "We That Serve". We as a nation have cured to them and it is time we stand up and DEMAND our rights be re-installed. It was money that had this wonderful plant changed to an illegal substance with no "legal medical" use. That promoted the hemp plant to be illegal. This country had morals before this was placed upon it's people, we once stood for each other but now we all run from the truth and seem to back them from a distance.
Know who you are dealing with, remember the police get most of their pay checks from locking you up, while the court system gets the rest from most people. Can you imagine what they would do if they actually had to work, going after "real drug dealers"?
Well well, have we reached that tipping point then, are people going to come out now and support us? I wonder if they will even hear about this poll or will the media ignore it or twist it into negative press? And if this is a majority then we need to press Obama, let him know he will lose in 2012 if he doesn't stop this mess, he wont have my vote and shouldn't get any votes from people that support Leap unless he does. This is such a hot issue that just supporting drug reform or ending the drug war or legalizing marijuana would win them the election, why don't they get that?
ReplyDeleteJoin the "Overgrow the Government"
ReplyDeleteDemonstration Protest
in Washington, D.C.
on 420 Day 2011- April 20, 2011
Rally to Make Marijuana Legal
& End Marijuana Prohibition
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146753865351662&ref-ts
March from Lafayette Park to the
Washington Monument.
Please call Jason Warf 502-396-5663
AND OFFER A DONATION
TO HELP PAY FOR
PORTABLE TOILETS, ETC.
stickman200210@gmail.com
420 Day