Pot Legalization: Now More Than Ever!
California's Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana in the Golden State, may be sliding in the polls, but it is growing in the hearts and minds of Americans all over the country. Gallup reports that
a new high of 46% of Americans are in favor of legalizing use of the drug, and a new low of 50% are opposed. The increase in support this year from 44% in 2009 is not statistically significant, but is a continuation of the upward trend seen since 2000.
That's from an Oct. 7-10 poll of over 1,000 adults. The storied polling service further notes that "if the trend of the past decade continues at a similar pace, majority support could be a reality within the next few years." Curiously (to me, anyway), women are 10 percentage points less likely than men to favor legalization, 41 percent to 51 percent. Go figure. As far as geography goes, the West is the best (as Jim Morrison used to say!), with fully 58 percent of folks out yonder backing making weed legal. Old people, conservatives, and Republicans (I'm lookin' at you, John McCain!) are the least likely sub-groups to support legalization, each at about 30 percent for and 70 percent against.
Reason.tv on the pros and cons of Prop. 19 in the words of supporters and opponents:
Matt Welch and I argue that Prop. 19 is the most important issue before voters on Election Day, in California and beyond. Certainly it's the one vote that could overnight dramatically change the U.S. Read more here.
Bonus video: 3 Reasons to Legalize Marijuana Now.