cannabisnews.com: Poll Encourages Marijuana Law Supporters





Poll Encourages Marijuana Law Supporters
Posted by CN Staff on March 29, 2003 at 16:35:50 PT
By Liz Heitzman of the Tribune’s Staff 
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune 
A poll released yesterday paid for by the group hoping to change Columbia’s marijuana laws shows those likely to vote no or yes on Proposition 1 are about even.Asked how they would vote on the April 8 ballot issue, about 45 percent of 523 respondents said they would favor the proposal, 40 percent said they would vote no and 15 percent said they weren’t sure. The poll of randomly selected registered voters had a 5 percent margin of error.
Despite the close numbers, Mark Jones, campaign director for Columbia Alliance for Patients and Education, or CAPE, is touting the five-point lead.CAPE paid the Center for Advanced Social Research, which is affiliated with the University of Missouri School of Journalism, about $2,800 to conduct the telephone poll from March 18 to March 20."Being five points ahead on an issue like this, I’m pretty happy about that, quite frankly," said Jones, who said he has worked on a number of other campaigns and has not been paid for his work with CAPE. "I think it shows that we’re on message and our message is appealing to voters."Columbia police Chief Randy Boehm, who has publicly joined Boone County Sheriff Ted Boehm and Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Crane in opposition to Proposition 1, learned of the poll results last night."I don’t know if I would say I am surprised by them, but I’m disappointed," Randy Boehm said. "I’ve been adamantly opposed to Proposition 1 and have been trying pretty hard to get the message out on that. I would really hope the community would not vote for this."As the campaign nears Election Day, advocates on both sides of the effort say they will be stepping up their efforts.This week the Tribune was contacted by staff members of President George W. Bush’s Office of National Drug Control Policy who indicated that a Bush appointee would be in Columbia on Thursday to discuss how Proposition 1 conflicts with federal laws.Eve Pearson of Columbia, a vocal opponent of the initiative, said fliers would be distributed to local Boy Scout troops to "get the word out" and "quell misinformation" about Proposition 1. A not-for-profit group based in Jefferson City called Act Missouri is paying for those flyers along with ads that have appeared in the Tribune about marijuana and the proposition.Meanwhile, signs urging passage of Proposition 1 have been cropping up around town, and Jones said supporters would be doing a "yard-sign blitz" next week. CAPE is also anticipating large donations from out-of-state marijuana advocacy activists next week.Jones said CAPE’s strategy in the days leading up to the election will be to identify supporters, going door to door and making calls to remind those people to vote."I think that we’re down to mobilization rather than persuasion," Jones said. "This is grass roots, elbow grease and sweat work."The poll informed respondents: "One of the issues on the April 8th ballot is Proposition 1. This proposition would remove the possibility of a criminal conviction and jail time for a person who uses marijuana for a serious medical condition with their doctor’s permission. It would also make possession of one and one quarter ounces or less of marijuana punishable by a fine rather than an arrest and jail time. If you vote on April 8th, will you vote for or against it?"Nearly half of the respondents - 47 percent - were 55 years and older. Eleven percent were 25 to 34 years old, 15 percent were 35 to 44 years old and 23 percent were 45 to 54 years old.Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)Author: Liz Heitzman of the Tribune’s Staff Published: Saturday, March 29, 2003Copyright: 2003 Columbia Daily TribuneContact: editor tribmail.comWebsite: http://www.showmenews.com/Related Articles:Police Adjust Pot Policy Before Election http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15795.shtmlSentencing Initiative Step Forward on Pot Policy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15780.shtmlBallot’s Marijuana Initiative Deserves Attentionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15735.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on March 29, 2003 at 18:18:40 PT
What are our troops fighten for
While here we have a "Bush appointee would be in Columbia on Thursday to discuss how Proposition 1 conflicts with federal laws."and Columbia police Chief Randy Boehm, who has publicly joined Boone County Sheriff Ted Boehm and Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Crane in opposition to Proposition 1, working tooth and nail to keep Proibition and the Black Market on the peoples backs. While state and Fed programs are being cut to the bone -- today it was anounced that more money will be taken from medicare leaving more and more people with less and less medical care. All the while we are being told we are fighting for freedom. While every time the people try to change unjust laws and use what freedom we have left who is there tring to stop them--- Where are those who say they are for smaller Gov't. those who say they are for personal responsibilty -- those who say we must send our countrys best to shed blood to keep our country free. That is all a big lie if our gov't does not protect the right to change unjust laws here. Like the right to vote with out using millions of taxpayer dollars fighting state initiatives. This is the U.S.A.the land of the Free. and the home of the Brave.
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