Support for Marijuana Legalization Getting Higher, But a Nice Kind of Calm High
Nate Silver sees the legalization of marijuana coming eventually.
But probably not for another decade or so…
The first poll, conducted last week by Rasmussen Reports, has 40 percent of Americans in support of legalizing the drug and 46 percent opposed. The second, conducted in January by CBS News, has 41 percent in favor of legalization and 52 percent against. And a third poll, conducted by Zogby on behalf of the marijuana-rights advocacy group NORML, has 44 percent of Americans in support of legalized pot and 52 percent opposed…
My guess is that we'll need to see a supermajority of Americans in favor of decriminalizing pot before the federal government would dare to take action on it. If the upward trend since 1990 holds (and recall my earlier caution: it might not), then legalization would achieve 60 percent support at some point in 2022 or 2023. About then is when things might get interesting. But I'd guess we'll see other some other once-unthinkable things like legalized gay marriage first.
That's not quite as quickly as I was hoping. But I guess that's why god invented spray paint and paperbags.
Related: The Marijuana Policy Project's Rob Kampia talks Fox News' Glenn Beck down from whatever he's on.
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A reply to Sandy on Jan 26, 2009: It's nice to hear from the non-stoners of the world. It's easy to see how most people agree their is a need to address the outdated laws in this country. There is a very resourceful way for us to fix our poor economic position while cleaning up the environment at the same time. Thank you Sandy, for some sound advice from a nonsmoker! THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SMOKING WEED!
I recently started an eco friendly, organic wedsite to help people make eco purchases, because baby steps towards sustainable living are better than no steps! At my company, http://www.karmafarmonline.com, we try to give folks EASY tips on how to ease into being "green" in addition to better purchasing options. We offer several hemp products including hemp clothing and hemp paper..Why hemp? Because it is, by far, Earth's premier, renewable natural resource. The hemp plant can single-handedly reverse the Greenhouse Effect, purify our air, water, & soil, and clothe and shelter us in a sustainable fashion.
Hemp paper lasts 50 to 100 times longer than most preparations of papyrus and is a hundred times easier and cheaper to make. It also does not yellow with age like acidic paper made from tree pulp. If the hemp pulp paper process of 1916 were in use today, it could replace 40 to 70% of all pulp paper (from trees), including corrugated boxes, computer printout paper and paper bags. Imagine the effect this conversion to hemp paper alone would have on near-extinct species and all forms of wild life, on old-growth forests that are fast disappearing, on the quality of our water, air, and soil, as well as on our planet's sensitive ecosystem!
It actually isn't entirely true that a felon cannot vote. It depends which state you live in. For example, Michigan allows its felons to vote. Not that I'm saying it is okay to get a felony when it is clearly not applicable (like in most pot possession charges) I just had to clarify so that if people who have felonies or are facing a possible felony will know their rights, and others can learn too!
It is good to see that people aren't so dumb that they don't see that pot is not nearly as distructive a recreational activity as alcohol and causes much less related arrests (you know those silly things people do why they are drunk like destroy other people's things). Most people when they smoke just chill out and maybe talk… or stare around thinking about the secrets of the universe… or laugh. It just all seems so absurd. Alcohol makes me feel ten times worse if I use it physically and mentally blocked and pained. Ug. Now I'm not for over use and habitual for either personally but c'est la vie.
Pot is good! been smoking it for 30+ years, dont care about the legal battle, all is good!
http://www.be-anonymous.us.tc
Actually, if Im not mistaken, "normal" felony charges do not warrant losing your right to vote, many murderers, rapists and child molesters maintain that right.
However, a marijuana felony "can" cause you to lose your right to vote. It is one of those things that just doesnt make sense with regards to the drug laws, just like how marijuana is considered to be a class 1 controlled substance and yet cocaine and heroin are class 2.
Actually, most state laws don't really punish you for possession that badly. In Ohio for example, you can be charged with possession of up to 100 grams (i think) and it is merely a misdemeanor with a fine involved, no jail time.
Where they stick it to you (at least in Ohio) is paraphernalia. One of my friends had to do 30 days in county lock-up for a bowl and half an eighth. He was never officially charged with possession, merely paraphernalia.
Same thing happened to Tommy Chong not to long ago (maybe 2-3 years ago…?). Can't remember if he actually had to do time for it or not (ahem).
So, even if the Feds claim they are no longer pursuing Marijuana busts, that just means they're not going ot arrest you officially for marijuana. Marijuana-related laws however (such as paraphenalia, intent to distribute, intent to manufacture, and so on) are most likely still fair game.
Unfortunately, this is just an intermediary step between current laws and full legalization. They can use this position to say to opponents of marijuana, "Look, we're still going after the dealers, the ones that hurt our kids" but to the proponents of marijuana legalization, they can say "Look, we no longer prioritize marijuana arrests, all these arrests were for dealing, or paraphernalia, not pot itself".
Typical Political Maneuvering.
I AM ALL FOR THE LEGALIZATION OF MARAJUANA.
I DON'T SMOKE IT. bUT, I CERTAINLY CAN NOT SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH IT. EXCEPT PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T CONTROL IT AND MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT LIKE LIQUOR.
IHOPE THIS RAISES YOUR PERCENTAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I've been smoking at least 30 years and I'd say its about time they legalized it. I feel its good to myself and the public to be able to choose for ourselves.
DMP
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