Marijuana legalization reaches majority finally

T

The Dude

Banned
For the first time, Gallup Poll shows majority support for marijuana legalization nationwide
Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:30:02 *By: Russ Belville, NORML Outreach Coordinator
Share This Article


NORML's Chart of Legalization Polls - data compiled by Russ Belville from various organizations asking a form of the question "Should marijuana be legalized in America?" (click graphic for full-sized version)

A Gallup Poll released today showed that, for the first time in its 42-year history of asking the question, a majority of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized nationwide.

Gallup reports that the 50% nationwide support for legalization also represents the first time support has outweighed opposition. *Only 46% of Americans believe marijuana should remain criminalized, with 4% undecided.

Support for marijuana legalization remains greatest in the Western states (55%) and majorities support legalization in the Midwest (54%) and East (51%). *Only voters in the South still oppose marijuana legalization (44%). *Men still support legalization at a much greater rate than women (55% vs. 46%).

Support is also greatest among younger Americans (62%), Democrats (57%), and liberals (69%). *However, support for legalization has increased even in demographics generally opposed to legalization. *Compared to Gallup’s poll last year, support increased 4% points in the South, 12% points in the Midwest, and 6% points among 50-64, but fell 1% among 65+. *Support rose 6% points among Republicans, and 4% points among conservatives. Marijuana legalization is becoming more popular with just about everyone.


Gallup Polls Support and Opposition to Marijuana Legalization 1969-2011

One third of jurisdictions in the United States – 16 states plus District of Columbia for 17 out of 51 – exempt medical use of cannabis from criminal prosecution. *Yet the federal government has initiated a new full-court press against these jurisdictions in an attempt to kill the burgeoning medical marijuana industry. *This despite Gallup’s most recent poll to ask about legalizing medical marijuana (in 2003) showing 75% support nationwide.

One might think this escalation in the War on (Certain American Citizens Using Non-Pharmaceutical, Non-Alcoholic, Tobacco-Free) Drugs is designed to hamstring the state initiatives to legalize marijuana in 2012 by cutting the purse strings of the movement. *When three-quarters of Americans support legalizing medical cannabis use, half support outright legalization of all cannabis use, and one-third of the states are openly defying federal prohibition, federal retribution in service of the status quo is inevitable.


Since 2005, support for marijuana legalization is up among all demographic groups polled.

The question is: what will you do to push the issue over the tipping point? *Register to vote? *Contact your legislators? *Join a local NORML chapter? *Contribute to National NORML? *Get educated on the issues? *Join together with like-minded women? *Reach out to seniors? *Follow the latest marijuana news? *Learn from the experts? *These latest federal actions should show you that they aren’t going to legalize marijuana any time soon – it’s up to you to act now.

Post updated to fix a mistyped “fell” to “rose”
 
The Dude said:
Point being they will vote for legalization when it's obviously a job hazard not too.
Click to expand...

Or, the sovereign states can simply say, "We're ignoring you and your illegal and unconstitutional act. Weed is legal in this state, and stay the hell out."

The constitution isn't going to enforce itself, it must be enforced by those who created it, not by the creation itself. It is not the task of the agent to control the principals. It is the potter that makes the pot, not the other way around.
 
The Dude said:
Yup, but that's not working for all of Cali is it?
Click to expand...

Sadly, no.

The phrase, "a republic, if you can keep it" comes to mind. Liberty is not a guaranteed state of society. In fact, it is an aberration compared the the abject slavery and poverty associated with the majority of man's history. The enlightenment may very well be followed by an endarkenment.

I just recently noticed this passage at Mike Vanderboegh's site:

This is no small thing, to restore a republic after it has fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may be that our task is impossible. Yet, if we do not try then how will we know it can't be done? And if we do not try, it most certainly won't be done. The Founders' Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, will be lost.

But I tell you this: We will not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we will make with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from that day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.

And when we are gone, the scattered, free survivors hiding in the ruins of our once-great republic will sing of our deeds in forbidden songs, tending the flickering flame of individual liberty until it bursts forth again, as it must, generations later. We will live forever, like the Spartans at Thermopylae, in sacred memory.
Click to expand...
 
Centinel said:
Or, the sovereign states can simply say, "We're ignoring you and your illegal and unconstitutional act. Weed is legal in this state, and stay the hell out."

The constitution isn't going to enforce itself, it must be enforced by those who created it, not by the creation itself. It is not the task of the agent to control the principals. It is the potter that makes the pot, not the other way around.
Click to expand...

there are two major problems with this approach. the states are too timid and the people are too cowardly
 
SmarterThanYou said:
there are two major problems with this approach. the states are too timid and the people are too cowardly
Click to expand...

Yes, that appears to be the case. At least for now.

Honestly, I don't know whether the federal government can actually be stopped or not. Could Rome have saved itself from degenerating in to an empire? Again, I don't know.

But somebody has got to try, and I'm not just going to go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. The place to start is in the neighborhood, the town, the county sheriff, and our state legislatures. Might as well write off federal elections. No good will come from Mordor on the Potomac.

Anyway, the fact that there is a Montana firearms freedom act means that there are some people out there who are awake, and you, a threeper, know that a very small percentage of the population can act to effect change. It may look hopeless. It may actually be hopeless. But I am not going to give up hope.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top