cannabisnews.com: Poll: Connecticut Should Legalize Marijuana





Poll: Connecticut Should Legalize Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on March 10, 2009 at 16:47:40 PT
By Ken Dixon, Staff Writer
Source: News-Times
Hartford -- Connecticut voters support decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, but in a weird twist on this emerging liberal agenda, they oppose allowing grocery stores to sell wine and distilled spirits, according to the new Quinnipiac University Poll. The poll, released Tuesday morning, also shows that voters support Sunday liquor sales, which has been proposed as a way to create new sources of state tax revenue.
When asked if they would favor a law similar to the statewide ballot initiative passed last November in Massachusetts -- making possession of less than a ounce of pot an infraction punishable by a small fine similar to a traffic ticket, rather than a misdemeanor that must be adjudicated and create a police record -- voters approved the proposal by 58-37 percent.Even voters over the age of 65 agree with the idea, although Republicans oppose it 51-44 percent. Democrats approve of it 68-30 percent and unaffiliated voters support decriminalization 58-35 percent.Douglas Schwartz, director of the poll, said it's the first time the poll has ever asked voters in any state their feelings about decriminalizing marijuana. "There is interest," he said of the support for reducing penalties for possession. Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said in an interview Tuesday that the poll reinforces legislation he has proposed this year that would mirror Massachusetts' marijuana-possession law."This is pretty substantial," Looney said of the 58-percent approval rating. "The change in Massachusetts was passed with over 60 percent of voters in favor. Clearly the public sees this as a reasonable idea to prioritize within the criminal justice system." Looney's bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Toni N. Harp, D-New Haven, has been raised in the Judiciary Committee, but a public hearing has not yet been scheduled.Last year, Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed a so-called medical marijuana bill, which Looney said is entirely different from the decriminalization bill. The medical-marijuana had a procedure for authorizing people to grow the weed in violation of overriding federal law."I think it has a chance this year partly because the public seems ahead of politicians on this issue," Looney said, adding that an estimated $15 million could be saved in Connecticut by freeing up public defenders and prosecutors from handling low-level pot-possession cases.Complete Article: http://www.newstimes.com/ci_11880944Source: News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)Author: Ken Dixon, Staff WriterPublished: March 10, 2009Copyright: 2009 The News-TimesContact: editor newstimes.comWebsite: http://www.newstimes.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by Vincent on March 11, 2009 at 08:25:04 PT:
Decrim in Connecticut
According to the survey quoted in the article, Republicans are the only group that opposes decriminalization of herb. Of course.
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Comment #3 posted by EAH on March 11, 2009 at 01:33:40 PT:
maybe finally
"I think it has a chance this year partly because the public seems ahead of politicians on this issue,"Oh my God, our leaders need to be led to doing the right thing, but will they?
Maybe it should be made clear to them that they won't get re-elected if they don't do it. Imagine a politician making THAT realization!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 10, 2009 at 17:06:39 PT
Iowa Medical Marijuana Proposal Dies in Committee
March 10, 2009URL: http://drugsense.org/url/dc8e79Kv
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 10, 2009 at 16:50:32 PT
Lawmaker: Medical Marijuana Bill Will Die
March 10, 2009Iowa -- Democratic lawmakers told about 20 Iowans who would like to see restricted marijuana use be legal for pain and nausea relief that the idea will go no further this legislative session. URL: http://drugsense.org/url/P8YpgKsj
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