cannabisnews.com: Poll Shows Strong Support for Legal Marijuana
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Poll Shows Strong Support for Legal Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on May 23, 2012 at 17:12:03 PT
By Daniel B. Wood, Staff Writer 
Source: Christian Science Monitor
Los Angeles -- A new national poll shows a clear majority of Americans in favor of legalizing and regulating marijuana – "the strongest support ever recorded," according to one pro-marijuana activist.The Rasmussen poll found that 56 percent of respondents favored legalizing and regulating marijuana similar to the way alcohol and tobacco cigarettes are currently regulated. Thirty-six percent were opposed. 
Critics have dismissed the survey, saying its questions were asked in a particularly leading fashion – a charge that Rasmussen contests. But experts who track the issue say the poll is consistent with the overall trend of steadily rising acceptance of marijuana use.Despite California’s failure to pass Proposition 19 in 2010 – which would have legalized recreational use – some state may legalize marijuana soon, perhaps as early as this November, says Robert MacCoun, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, who follows marijuana laws. That means it is time to consider shifting the debate from legalization to consideration of how it should be done, he adds.“For example, if we tax and regulate, should we tax by weight or should we tax by THC content to discourage the most potent products?” he asks. “Can we set taxes high enough to offset the inevitable steep drop in prices or are we willing to allow consumption to increase?”Anti-marijuana groups say those questions are premature. If Rasmussen had put facts in the question’s premises, the outcome would have been the opposite, they say.“If they had asked, ‘If you knew that a majority of homicide convicts in New York had smoked marijuana within 24 hours of their convictions, would you be in favor of legalizing it?’ they would have gotten a far different answer,” says David Evans, special adviser to the Drug Free America Foundation. “These questions are so biased and leading, it’s embarrassing.”He cites Question 10: “As long as they don’t do anything to harm others, should individuals have the right to put whatever drugs or medication they want into their own bodies?”“This is a clearly very biased finding," he says. "They’ve asked leading questions to get the responses they wanted.”Beth Chunn, spokesman for Rasmussen Reports, disagrees. She says the firm conducted the study the way it did to answer a specific question: "This survey tested whether legalization and regulation generated more support than legalizing and taxing. It did.”Pro-marijuana groups are using the findings to argue that the Obama administration’s raids on state medical marijuana dispensaries are not in concert with the public’s wishes, and that politicians who don’t support further relaxation of penalties are behind the times.“This is the strongest support ever recorded in favor of marijuana legalization in the US,” says Dale Gieringer, state coordinator of California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). “It confirms a trend that originated in 2009, when for the first time polls began to show plurality support for legalization.”He says the trend can be expected to continue, since younger voters are more favorable toward ending marijuana prohibition than older ones. “Politicians ought to take note of the changing political wind," he says. "Marijuana legalization appears destined to become the next big social freedom issue after gay rights.” Other supporters of a more liberal US drug policy also seized on the poll. They say this shows the drug war has failed, and that it’s time not only to ease up on social attitudes while bringing in much needed revenue for strapped government."Polling now consistently shows that more voters support legalizing and regulating marijuana than support continuing a failed prohibition approach,” says Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). "If the trends in public opinion continue in the direction they are going, the day is not far away when supporting a prohibition system that causes so much crime, violence, and corruption is going to be seen as a serious political liability for those seeking support from younger and independent voters."The telephone survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted May 12.Source: Christian Science Monitor (US)Author: Daniel B. Wood, Staff Writer Published: May 23, 2012Copyright: 2012 The Christian Science Publishing SocietyContact: letters csmonitor.comWebsite: http://www.csmonitor.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/0tGuYOUcCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #12 posted by observer on May 25, 2012 at 11:40:43 PT
no mention of jail or prison
Never any need for the good folks at the Christian Science Monitor to mention jail or imprisonment - i.e. the whole point of "legalization" (not jailing adults for pot). 
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Comment #11 posted by afterburner on May 25, 2012 at 08:46:32 PT
I Wonder How These Plans Are Going
San Francisco Democratic Party Calls on Obama to End Medical Marijuana Attacks.
Democrats seek to re-open closed dispensaries & call for passage of statewide regulations.
By California Campaign for Safe Access - Friday, April 27 2012.
Follow: USA, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, legalization, california, raids, obama administration, AB 2312, San Francisco Democratic Party
http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2012/04/27/San-Francisco-Democratic-Party-Calls-Obama-End-Medical-Marijuana-Attacks
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Comment #10 posted by The GCW on May 24, 2012 at 20:00:41 PT
Cannabis: unreliable???
European Medical Marijuana Product Sativex is Challenged by North America’s New Cannabis Pill Idrasilhttp://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2012/05/21/European-Medical-Marijuana-Product-Sativex-Challenged-North-America-s-New-Cannabi"...“A regulated dose is far better than traditional medical marijuana due to the fact that smoked or ingested cannabis is unreliable. Now with Idrasil, an exact measured dosage is easily achieved and also trackable by physicians,” says Sheldon Powers, MD.Cont.(will this be used to prolong prohib?)
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Comment #9 posted by ekim on May 24, 2012 at 08:22:51 PT
fyi
http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/39850-ca-supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-cannabis-collectives/page__pid__387258#entry387258
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Comment #8 posted by runruff on May 24, 2012 at 08:22:50 PT
Sam,
Anslinger would be proud of that one!Remember the story he told about the teenage boy who smoked a joint and killed his parents with an axe?Something else about bats flying around the room?
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Comment #7 posted by Sam Adams on May 24, 2012 at 08:11:57 PT
yes!! HELL yes!!!
>>>“If they had asked, ‘If you knew that a majority of homicide convicts in New York had smoked marijuana within 24 hours of their convictions, would you be in favor of legalizing it?’Of course!!!! What the hell do you want them doing - drinking alcohol? Taking coke? which both drive aggression?  taking steroids to get bigger and stronger! No, of course cannabis is perfect for them.You can see the prohibs panicking as the poll results climb ever higher. Yes, the "bigot generation" is dying off! Sorry, CSM - you lose! I watching a show about wolves hunting buffalo in the arctic. When the wolves get close enough, the buffalo start to panic and stampede. I think it's safe to say the "wolves" of public opinion have encircled the prohibs and they're starting to panic!
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on May 24, 2012 at 06:42:36 PT
So what is the DEA's game here?
To delay the inevitable for as long as possible by hook or crook if necessary. To squeeze as many paychecks and perks as possible before the pot prohibition bandwagon plays it's last marching tune. And who could blame them. I guested 40 of these comic book heroes in my home. Believe me they are not looking forward to what is available to them on the future job market with their skills or lack of them. Not the sharpest knives in the cutting block. Imagine Mickey the Mouse Lionfart waiting on your table?
It might go something like this; Today's special is the best thing on the menu but it is not available. You cannot have anything I do not wish to smell or look at today and I do not want you to order anything that might take too long to prepare or eat because it is almost my break time and I will require my 20% tip and have you out of here so I can have the next set of grazers in here, you got that?She may be lacking a little in people skills? 
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Comment #5 posted by runruff on May 24, 2012 at 06:17:47 PT
Sorry Dr. Craker :>(
There just has not been enough studies on cannabis to allow any studies to go forth on a plant that has no medicial value.We cannot allow the medical use of a substance about which we do not know enough to endorse because there is no medical use for it and no studies to show otherwise.Anicdotal and historical evidence notwithstanding, your request is denied! 
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Comment #4 posted by ekim on May 24, 2012 at 05:28:56 PT
oral arguments in Craker V Dea
http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/39847-craker-v-dea-may-11-audio-of-oral-arguments-re-marijuana-production-facility-for-research-in-1st-circuit-of-us-court-of-appeals/page__pid__387224#entry387224
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Comment #3 posted by Canis420 on May 23, 2012 at 22:17:28 PT:
Mr Evans
He questions the intent of the questions put forth in the R. poll. He thinks they are leading, when they are far from. He suggests asking the question this way "If they had asked, ‘If you knew that a majority of homicide convicts in New York had smoked marijuana within 24 hours of their convictions would you be in favor of legalizing it?'" Talk about leading...sheesh. He is a mind bender I'll give him that.
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on May 23, 2012 at 20:51:32 PT
 Poll Shows Strong Support for Legal Marijuana
So big deal, one Polish guy shows a little support and it makes headlines!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 23, 2012 at 17:14:46 PT
Response To This Question
“If they had asked, ‘If you knew that a majority of homicide convicts in New York had smoked marijuana within 24 hours of their convictions, would you be in favor of legalizing it?’ they would have gotten a far different answer,” says David Evans, special adviser to the Drug Free America Foundation. “These questions are so biased and leading, it’s embarrassing.”***Response to this question.I say bad people smoke marijuana and bad people drink alcohol. Good people smoke marijuana and good people drink alcohol. 
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