(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States are willing to legalize marijuana, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 53 per cent of respondents support this notion, while 43 per cent are opposed.
Less than 10 per cent of respondents support the legalization of other drugs, such as ecstasy, powder cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine or “crystal meth” and crack cocaine.
The use of marijuana is illegal in the U.S. except in some regulated cases of medical use. The amount allowed for such purposes varies depending on the state. Some states have passed laws to reduce law enforcement for possession of small amounts of the substance.
In May, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, ruled out a push to legalize marijuana, adding, “I’ve never advocated legalization and certainly the president has made it clear that’s his position.”
53% support for marijuana legalization! This is a nationwide sampling with a margin of error of ±3.1%, which means that unless the sample was wildly inaccurate, we can safely say a majority of Americans now support marijuana legalization.
The question asked was “Do you support or oppose the legalization of each of the following drugs?” with no further explanation. With no prompting about the possible economic benefits of taxing cannabis or points about reforming criminal justice, with just the blanket term “legalization” which could lead to a range of solutions from strict marijuana pharmacies to open farmers’ markets, in other words, a question most likely to get the lowest favorable response, we just got 53%. 61% of Democrats and 55% of Independents support legalization, while only 43% of Republicans agree.
In another question the poll asked “The term “War on Drugs” has been used to describe the efforts of the U.S. government to reduce the illegal drug trade. From what you have seen, read or heard, would you describe the “War on Drugs” as a success or a failure?” 68% of Americans called it a failure, with two-thirds of Democrats and Republicans agreeing it’s a failure and over three-fourths of Independents. About 70% of respondents across all political and geographic demographics agreed that “America has a serious drug abuse problem and it affects the whole country.”
Hemp legalization will save the world’s economy. By allowing farmers to grow hemp, our economy will get a big green boost! Industry will spring up everywhere hemp is allowed to grow. Free the hemp plant and give back American farmers their God given birthright to sow hemp as far as the eye can see!
so 70% of the coutry agrees on something? And the people who get their checks from the American people dont think this is a key issue!? Wasn’t SB 716 supposed to get some action today?! I cant wait to see what the 2010 polls say. people are getting less afraid to talk about this
Fantastic! Let’s implement my plan to legalize it and use it to stabilize Afghanistan by getting their farmers to switch to cannabis from opium poppies and set the world market and have all cannabis products traded in U.S.dollars. The U.S. needs these revenues and so does the rest of the world indirectly. Once the U.S. economy is back on its feet from revenues from a previously untapped and untaxed commodity, it can recover and lead the rest of the world to recovery. The U.S. basically needs to stop pissing away so much wasted money on cannabis prohibition, and use it and the soon-to-be above the radar commerce to spare the non-cannabis businesses from taxation, hopefully give them some tax relief to further spur job creation and growth.
And then there are the so totally obvious medicinal benefits, of which I would like to share in, and be legally treated with cannabis. I have cancer and am NOT a criminal, and can currently NOT get my medicine in Pennsylvania.
Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy is an employee of the American people, as is President Obama. In a democracy, majority rules, so they can do what their bosses tell them to do, or look for another job.
This news is awesome! You just have to wonder, whats the real holdup here in this society run by it’s citizens? Oh, that was 1776 when we were a truly free society that had control….Damn!
so now how do we legalize it now that everyone knows people need weed to survive or else we all will just drink which is the real problem.
53% is more than the favorable rating for President Obama today. I heard the fearless leader is somewhere between 46 – 48 percent. Seems like he’s trying to reach the 43% range of American’s opposed to legalization the rapid way his ratings are dropping.
the ppl have spoken …now will the gov. listen??????
Gotta love those polls, huh? I guess that means the prohibs will be kicking the spin machine in high gear before Gallup polls come up with a similar number. Pretty soon it won’t matter how they word the question and the polls will be in our favor and they can’t have that and do biz as usual. Don’t want to spend money on education and health when we can use it for domestic war games, right?
I know, I know this is more good news and I should be more positive about it so….. Wooohooo!!!!
This is telling.
How much longer until we only vote for people who’s platform includes legalizing cannabis? A problem with this is that if we abstain our vote, others will vote and the process will still happen and yet again someone else will end up in office who is against legalizing cannabis. We need to focus our votes on a single politician who will actually stand up for the country’s beliefs. How can something be taboo if the majority of the nation is in favor of it? Someone out there please just recognize. This could all be over quickly with a simple 2/3 majority congress vote and the president’s signature.
In a true democracy, cannabis would be legalized now.
I d/k, 53%-
4% undecided??
Now what?
You know it needs to be legalized right?
Just the age, that concerns me. 21? to young?
I say 24, 27, 30?? opinions on age ppl, opinions!?
I am surprised so few support legalizing other drugs. Obviously marijuana legalization is our #1 priority but I personally believe in regulating some other drugs, such as psychedelics. It is very easy to obtain ecstasy, lsd, shrooms, etc., and of course the local dealers will not ask for ID. The only way to keep drugs out of the hands of teens is to regulate them for sale to adults.
I also think we should legalize “softer” versions of hard drugs. For example, if we legalized opium dens we may be able to control the poppy market and reduce heroin use. If we legalize cocaine, we have control over coca plant production and may reduce crack cocaine use.
Once we control the marijuana, psychaedlic, cocaine, and opium poppy markets, where will the gangs get their profits? Meth sales? I guarantee that with other drugs available legally meth use will plummet. Best of all, with the profits now going to the government instead of gangs, our economy will improve and crime will be reduced.
And then of course there’s the great potential of hemp… I just can’t believe how blind our politicians have been.
You know if more people were polled….there probably be more for it….There has to be a way to get this on a national ballot…a Ballot where anyone over the age 18 can vote on. The Government has already made a majority of marijuana users felons. Come on NORML and the rest of the U.S.A lets get this done. Lets put an end to the arrest. Lets put an end to the violence on the border. Lets legalize marijuana!
if federal prisoners grow it indoors and the state prisoner create and print packaging-then place a small fed tax on it-doesn’t everyone benefit?no cost to general public-(except what they pay for to consume)at the same time undermine the dealer that pays no tax for an outragous and unreported income?our political drones need to be reprogrammed!
I wonder if they will leave marijuana as a schedule 1 drug if it s legalized? If they can keep Americans from growing their own,they can keep the violence and crime surrounding marijuana intact. Anything that keeps the price of marijuana where it is now,or even 1/4,will just underwrite the cartels existence,whether the price stays up because of taxes or greed from commercial growers and entrepreneurs.
There will be a large demand for commercially grown pot though,because many will want the convenience,some are not in a setting where growing their own is an option,but the greatest regulator we can have is the ability too grow our own if greed becomes an issue by the comm ops or the government taxes.
PS. It’s time to prepare your ground for next years garden.
“Marijuana is addictive to people the same way sex is,anything that good needs repeating!”
I think it is going to take some time for our elected officials to get the message. They always seem to lag behind popular opinion. I recently sent a letter to the democratic national committee explaining why I would not be sending any more financial support. I simply said that due to the fact that President Obama laugh at the idea of lifting cannabis prohibition I would no longer support them. I went on to tell them they should study the origins of this most destructive law. I will not be a party to anything that uses greed and racial bias to impose its will on people. It is very nice to see that all of the true facts that NORML has been putting out is really starting to show up in the form of public opinion. Keep up the good work. I will be sending my financial support to NORML in the coming days. I urge all of you to do the same as it is making a difference.
I like the way this is heading! Let’s keep working to teach & reach our fellow citizens and our legislators. Joining groups like NORML to give solidarity to our call for change and acting as individuals locally,too (remember the old quote “All politics is local politics” Ye-ah!
Hemp for Victory!
The results speak for the general population. All the closet smokers need to come out already…
a war against water cannot be won. a war against the earth is a war against the earth. in the war of man v. cannabis; it seems that cannabis will ultimately win.
i.e. imagine a gorilla waging war against wheat….
the idea of life should not be limited to oneself or one’s body, one’s mind, one’s soul. inevitably, ineluctably, a future exists which will shed every ego of the currently existing 7 billion…. yet, the human gene will carry on… and research into the CB1 and CB2 receptors will carry on… and symbiosis will be better understood between humanity and cannabis…
the dark ages of 2009 will disappear. of 1986. of 1971.
… a denial of symbiosis, of the union between ourselves and the earth, and the universe… this is not sustainable.
to be sure, a premature extinction of humanity could easily be blamed on the dominant attitude against cannabis. this attitude is beginning to wane.
the tide is now turning: because, not only do we have cannabis, we’ve got numbers on our side.
HB 2401 in Washington State.
Here is a part of it…
2 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW
3 to read as follows:
4 It is the intent of the legislature to:
5 (1) Legalize marijuana and its derivatives;
6 (2) Remove all existing civil and criminal penalties for adults
7 twenty-one years of age or older who cultivate, possess, transport,
8 sell, or use marijuana, without impacting existing laws proscribing
9 dangerous activities while under the influence of marijuana, or certain
10 conduct that exposes younger persons to marijuana;
11 (3) Raise funds and discourage substance abuse by the imposition of
12 a tax on the legal sale of marijuana, the proceeds of which will
13 support drug education and awareness; and
14 (4) Impose a set of rules and laws concerning marijuana comparable
15 to those imposed on alcohol.
The real statistic to look at here is ZERO deaths, caused by marijuana alone in recorded history. Meanwhile, alcohol and tobacco are both legal and kill more people each hour than marijuana has EVER killed. Who’s safety is being protected by keeping marijuana illegal? I’m not even violating my own rights by smoking pot, nonetheless some else’s, which is what the constitution is supposed to protect! It’s time to get real, destroy a large component of criminal drug trafficking, and legalize this harmless flower for responsible users AND patients who could use some REAL relief.
of further note: the first political party that sides with the outright legalization of cannabis will prove a winner. Sarah Palin can outsway Obama on one issue: if, and only if she were to support Legalization. Bring it into a debate: there is no way to defend the current position of illegalization. It’s Unconstitutional by way of the 1st and the 14th amendments of the United States. Our current state began with Nixon’s acknowledged disregard for the US Constitution. We need not continue such a teleological stance against not only cannabis, but our founding principles whereby not only are we granted the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… but, also, we need not support that which was advised to Nixon in the issuance of the 1971 CSA, that which is petty, and ‘may’ actually infringe upon the founding document of our very governance.
our governance. not the governance of the prison industry. our governance. the peoples’ governance. the 53% of us who say yes, ‘yes we cannabis.’
Does anyone know exactly when they start voting to legalize it in California? This is taking way too long!
This is great news! I am glad that the American people are finally starting to see past the racist and ignorant government stigmas. If NC or VA is in need of a lobbyist, I volunteer!
haha 3.1% margin of error… none the less, marijuana is going to be legalized in due time. The facts are, the medical marjiuana system is now being designed to be used for anyone who wants it, and when the citys try to grapple regulations they dont knwo what to do, and done for no cost. they just ban it outright. the going to doctor with an open wallet for ur money EVERY year. 50-150$. busting grow ops. not permitting people to do it the right way. Continuing to create artificially high prices, making whatever risk involved worth it. the house of cards is slowly falling down, but we as the people need to keep chipping away. i am only one person but i am one person. something like 95% of america didnt want bailouts to rescue the fat cats, or were willing to cripple to system to get rid of them, and yet our representatives in washington voted for the bailouts anyways. Just quit being so fearful. and OVERGROW the planet with cannabis.
Medicine ought to be good and cheep, like the price of coffee or beer. Start growing. increase supply.
i hate when people read something on NORML and than try to convince everyone reading the benifits of legalization! DUDES EVERYONE READING THE ARTICLE ALREADY KNOWS IT SHOULDS BE LEGAL, GO TALK TO THE BABY BOOMERS BECAUSE THEY TEND TO DISAGREE AND HAVE A SWEY IN THE VOTE ! DONT PREACH TO THE NORML SCOCIETY
YES! GUYS WE ARE SO CLOSE NOW!
I feel as if everyday we are closer to reaching our goals. This year has been huge in the push against the perpetuating hypocracy that is our legal system. All the facts have been laid out, I dont need to list them. Each day seems to be a inch in the right direction, we have momentum on our side. All that needs to happen is one big thing, one fact, event or statement that will change the laws. I know that there are still those who do not know anything about marijuana, Ive seen these people everday and on such documentaries as “The Union.” (great by the way!) But Im sorry ignorance is just not an acceptable excuse, especially when the ignorant are opinionated. We are close, with the coffee shop opening, and the AMA looking into the subject, there just seems to be a piece or two missing from the grand puzzle.
Before you comment here, download the study, attach it in an email, AND SEND IT TO YOUR LEGISLATORS. This is how we ensure that this society is run by it’s citizens.
First this isnt supposed to be a democracy, its a republic, soon as people remember what that means we will regain the power we were supposed to have all along.
Second, being this has become a democrascy, our leaders could careless about our cries. They will do this on their own time when it suits their re-election, reguardless of the support we have among the American people.
Ok, lets all now vote on alcohol legislation since we have it legalized and it has touched somebody’s life in a negative way. Yeah, lets just have another poll on alcohol. Cant wait to see the results.
Oh, my how the tide can (and apparently does) change. The last time I checked, the people stood at 44% in favor. That’s one hellavuh jump – up 9%, wow. It was generally accepted until now that it went up about 2% per year, and we were looking forward to seeing a majority in 4 or 5 years. Man, 9% is astoundingly good news. Maybe it’ll jump to 63% next week.
End Prohibition – Save The World
us people living in it know that.
This has been a really interesting month for us,( “THE INTERNET AUDIENCE”-Obama )
Where was this poll taken. There should be a scrolling banner on the home page. I wanted to be in the 53 club.
We should get NORML to dedicate a page just for that crucial info. We can also start a project to coordinate the first American smoke out to prove how united we can be when the oppressive federal arm is broken. Getting close, who’s bringing the brownies!
Oracle, You prove your common sense. Cannibus could indeed support a heavy enough tax to compensate for commercial and industrial tax abolishment, due to Super high profits cannibus could generate, taxes would be chump change and willingly paid.
To Mike H.
MARIJUANA DOESN’T KILL
We should get Tom Cruise to make a video for us to send to Obama. Then Obama would be convinced. All jokes aside, Next time you see Obama talk on the subject of legalization look in his eyes. He wants it too, but he can only say what he is told to say by the people who run him. That is a fraction of the friction.
[Editor’s note: Tom Cruise? Cruise is an anti-cannabis Scientologist…]
With 4 states now having pending legislation for full legalization, I think we’re starting to see the tide turn at an exponential rate.
Oh and to you people who are talking about “trying to convince people” on the Norml site about regulation/reform– we’re not! We’re sharing winning arguments 😀
The medical marijuana movement has no doubt helped open the door to the possibility of full legalization. Fortunately, All the restrictions and oversight on medical use that bureaucrats love to impose and that medical users and dispensaries have been willing to accept will become moot when cannabis is fully legal. This day may be sooner than we imagine as acceptance of legalization seems to be accelerating in the general public. Will we soon be able to buy a pack of good quality smokes at the Circle K at a price similar to the other, much more harmful, recreational drugs available there?
Citing this poll’s results, the question for prohibitionists is, what’s your excuse now? As always, the bottom line of their reasoning will be, “just because.” How tragic we do not have political leaders who “support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” like they swore to do when they took office. Those who feel self-entitled to run the lives of others are the real criminals, not cannabis consumers exercising their God-given, Constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Felling better today.:) Proper strain does wonders.
This really is great news. Public opinion has been in our favor for quite a while now as far as I can tell and the stigma of voicing that opinion is finally wearing off.
There are other things we can do beyond our keyboards though. We can have the courage to try and convince those people we meet who oppose our standpoint out of blind belief in the past and current propaganda. There are plenty of good folks out there who can be requited to our side by word of mouth. I do so as often as I can.
Having had my right to vote removed from me (thanks to prohibition) like others who may read these pages leaves me feeling like my letters to those in office don’t even get read but that doesn’t mean that I can’t do my part. Not being afraid to talk about my battle with meth addiction ( 8 years clean, wooohoooo!) and the fact that cannabis helps me stay on track and deal with the mental health issues that result from (or may be a contributing factor to)a lifetime of hard drug abuse has helped to sway some opinions believe it or not.
My story of prohibition being the direct cause of my exposure to drugs at such a tender age is not unique here and we need to not be afraid to share these stories with people with families who follow the propaganda out of a blind desire to protect their offspring. Grass roots baby! I know it’s not the only way but it helps more than you think.
This is great news. I’m going to smoke one up in celebration. We have so much to gain and so little to lose from legalizing. However, no first term President is ever going to propose we do this. Obama knows the truth, rest assured. I wouldn’t be surprised when the campaigning starts up again, if he proposed to legalize and create a hemp industry. That would swing a huge amount of votes his way, and by the looks of it, he’s going to need it.
As an addendum to my previous post;
I don’t like to share this story of mine without also also establishing the fact that I’ve been married for over 22 years to a woman who drinks maybe 2 glasses of wine a month and we’ve raised two fine young men (who aren’t even interested in alcohol let alone anything else) while always holding down a good job. The only thing that has ever gotten in the way of accomplishing those goals is prohibition.
The majority of Americans have never supported the marijuana / JimCrow laws. It is time for the legalization of being just and at your liberty. WOW! I’ll be at my liberty anyway, the law is wrong not me. Fact is the government has created a Constructive fraud, which is a crime, against the American People. Now that the People are educating themselves on the real facts the government is exposed for the Fraud they have committed.
JURY NULLIFICATION! Teach the leason to those wishing education and lets do a way with these fraudulent acts once and for all. Forget asking Congress to do the right thing. Nullify the Law and be the boss over this wayward government.
And Remember that old saying that cried out from the British prison cell, “Give me liberty or give me death.” Folks liberty is in your hearts not in the hands of congress. Go forth and act upon your liberties, do not back down, they are yours, they are mine, trhey are the people’s, they were never the governments.
Mike #13: ater all we’ve been thru watching what prohibition has done for us in the last 72 years, we should know bettr than to prohibit any drug.
Joe #24: Sarah Palin is, was born and will die a bimbo and she’ll never get my vote even if she came out and single handedly leegalized pot nationawide today! This is the problem with Americans – particularly men. They think with their genetalia instead of their brains.
#34 Luke: that’s because pot smokers are coming out of the closet in droves. 50% of Americans smoke pot every day and 70% of Americans know it should be legal.
ok, once again i see another chart sayin the majority of Americans support marijuana legalization, but were are the plans to make it happen? where is the action ? whose goin to get involved? thanks for the charts and stuff but i want to see physical results . i want to see the cannabis community turn up the heat.
If by 2012 Mr. Obama still doesn’t have legalization in his “vocabulary”, then I guess I’ll be voting for a new president.
Well there you have it. Proof that America is no longer a democracy! If a democracy cannot perform on an issue as minor as marijuana, how can we the people expect it to be an effective form of government on larger issues hm? Marijuana MUST now be made legal for the people HAVE DECIDED. We will now wait and see what our countrie’s leaders will do… If they do not legalize marijuana, then it is safe to say we cannot trust in them to govern this nation where we the people have the true power. If that is the case then there is no peaceful solution. We must protect America from domestic tyranny!! Think about it readers! This is the proof we need to determine just what our leaders are up to. Are they for the people? OR against the people? And if they are against the people, then what do we do about it?
This is great news. I am curious how these polls are conducted. I wonder if people are worried they’ll be “identified” as a “cannabis sympathizer” in some way? If so, that is even more impressive that a majority of people support legalization. I literally cannot think of anyone I know that doesn’t support legalization, and most of them are not cannabis users themselves.
Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit…Need I say more?
Woodstock Universe supports legalization of Marijuana.
We will giveaway a Woodstock Universe Prize Package to the best member blog on “Why we should legalize marijuana?”
Prize package includes Woodstock Universe T-shirt and magnet, WDST decal, Radio Woodstock Live in Woodstock CD and Woodstock 3 days of peace and music Director’s Cut DVD.
Join Woodstock Universe to blog or just vote in our poll.
Add your vote in our poll about legalization at:
http://www.woodstockuniverse.com
New poll started 11/25…currently 95%…for 5% against.
Peace, love, music, one world,
RFWoodstock
I don’t like how NORML only referenced one poll (Angus Reid) and didn’t bother mentioning the rest. Nonetheless, it’s still relatively good news.
[Russ responds: Uh, Ed, did you notice the big chart with over three dozen poll points on it?]
That’s awesome. You know what is baffling, though, is that Republicans, who say they’re for less government intrusion into people’s lives, are still supportive of the most breaching-into-private-lives policy in the history of the USA, prohibition, of course. I don’t understand that position, but it is refreshing to see that a few Republican politicians have realized that being anti-prohibition is the stance that jives with the Republican mindset. Now if we can just turn the rest of them around, maybe things will actually change for the better, faster, and in a better way.
HighMtnSkier – I think you’re right on that one, about Obama waiting until his next term. It would suck to wait another three years, but politically it makes sense. With that in mind, it seems logical (and more important than ever) that we continue to rally our proverbial pot troops in support of full legalization during these next few years so we can amass a much greater majority of Democrats AND Republicans (and Independents, too, of course) to leverage a huge political will of the people on this thing. In the 27 years I’ve been frustrated with the War on Weed, I’ve never in my life seen such a positive shift as this. I honestly believe that we’re on the verge of big change within the next couple of years.
The Dawn Of Man
Many years ago there was a release of magnicent amounts of energy in what we call the vacume of space.This relese of energy is often reffered to as the “Big Bang Theory”,I am not a pyhsasist so I dont agree with all of the scientic data.To me this was not “accidental” ,but was a devine creation of all the heaven and earth.In short it was the creation of all man knows.At that moment all that was meant to be came into motion not as coincidence but as God designated it to be.This tremendous creation created all atoms which are the building blocks of all molecules found in the universe today.The Bible states that god created all plants and that includes the Cannibis plant,therefore banning this plant or saying it is illegal is rediculous, it also is a persecution of ones religous freedoms.I will not dable into religion to much further than that but that is my basic vision of it all,how can man make a creation of god “illegal’?Please have the ability to see thru what society has programed you to believe.The Native Americans have plants that they can legally use for religous purposes,so why is it that any natural plant not be allowed for use to help bring one closer to there god whatever their personal beliefs might be!The goverments of the world protect animals from extinction but there are plants that the would would completely eradicate without any concern like they were trash,if God didnt want these plants he wouldnt have created them.I for one am tired of being told what to do by a clearly corrupt goverment that pisses away our hard earned money to satisfy their parties agendas.If this is still a country that protects ones religous beliefs then we must be allowed to consume Gods creation in any way we see fit.
First Obama is never legalizing weed. If we all vote for Ron Paul, we will be having weed legalize. Between him and Obama, Ron Paul was talking about it during his campain. Alcohol should be at the age 21, but for weed, should be at least 18. The reason is that its alot easier to overdose on alcohol but not on weed.
But we should keep pushing for the legalization by speaking out.
I wonder if hemp-fuel exposure causes cancer??? Because;….I was at the Gas Pump yesterday and noticed a small sign in a not-so-easily visible place that read: PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO GASOLINE FUMES MAY CAUSE CANCER.
NOW, it’s my way of thinking that anyone who has been filling up twice a week at a pump-station( for 15 yrs or more…)”may” indeed be at risk of cancers caused by prolonged gasoline fume exposure.
Perhaps??????
Yeah I am tired of Marijuana being illegal. I have been arrested and given felony’s and all before in North Carolina just over few plant’s and they throw you in there with every dirty theft and murders you can think of and I am only 20. I hope it becomes legalized very soon.
Here’s what is REALLY trippy though……..
We have lived in society built on petrolium-based products for almost 100 yrs. And we can see and document the pollution and problems Petro has caused(environmentally & healthwise). Not to mention how many wars have been waged over “who controls what Oil-reserve and the like”.
NOW…..imagine if our society had been built on Hemp-based products–including hemp-based fuel–for the last 75 yrs??? I DARE say we would not have half the problems we face now because there would be far less pollution. De-forestation would still be a “future” problem if we had been using Hemp-paper all these last 75 yrs.
I’m also guessing there would NOT have been as many wars and “conflicts” in the 1900’s if the world’s auto-mobiles were powered by HEMP-fuel. I,mean, think about it. Hemp is a renewable resource. Kinda hard to fight over a fuel-source that’s renewable…..you don’t see anybody fighting for control over the world’s Wind or Solar power supply; do ya??? Yet, control over Oil-supply always seems to be the subject of conflict.
FINAL THOUGHTS : I think a science experiment should be done. We have sampled, used, and seen the affects of 100 yrs of a petrolium-based society. Document it. THEN, let’s live in a Hemp-based society for the next 100 yrs. and then compare the data to see which is the more progressive route( I have already formed my Hypothetical conclusion….)
[Russ responds: Actually, a look through history will show you that many of the wars prior to our petroleum-based economy were fought over the control of hemp. Napoleon’s need to invade Russia, Japan’s conquests of China, and many others. In a sense, we were a hemp-based economy. Our forefathers were mandated to grow hemp by the British Crown as early as the 1611 at the Jamestown colony and you could pay your taxes with hemp. Hemp oil was the primary lighting fuel (along with whale oil) and hemp sails and rigging powered our mass transit (ships) and personal transit (covered wagons). So I don’t think transitioning back to a hemp-based economy will necessarily end wars between nations. Now, ending our war against our planet’s biodiversity and environment, on the other hand, would be a major benefit of transitioning away from petroconomy.]
Just watched former smuggler Brian O’Dea on CNN.He completely baffled the host who claimed that legalizing drugs would increase usage by citing Portugals success and promoted LEAP,the host couldn’t stand it and ran from the subject LOL!.
NORML-I’ve never seen this guy before,could you check him out?
http://www.brianodea.com/
Legalizin marijuana will decrease the drug problem in the U.S because most people that are in jail for drugs is because most of them have been caught with marijauana. Also, it will be a chance for farmers to make more money. as far as the economy is concerned, taxes on marijuana can help alot because there is already alot of marijuana out there, that is alot of money the government can be making from it.
Marijuana legalization, first it called Canabis or Hemp, Marijuana is like using the word nigger, it comes from the same time period as the Jim Crow Laws. Second, Jury Nullification is the way to force our government into correcting their Constructive Fraud placed upon the People, and it trumps waiting for congress to do the just thing. Jury Nullification makes using Cannabis legal because it clearly tells the government who is the employee and who is the employer, time for you folks to be your own boss and give America back to oursleves, the Americans.
Here is action each and everyone of you supporters can put forth and change these foolish unjust cannabis laws that tears at our very fiber and soul of liberty.
Get The Words Out: JURY NULLIFICATION! and set Americans FREE.
“If by 2012 Mr. Obama still doesn’t have legalization in his “vocabulary”, then I guess I’ll be voting for a new president.”
I’m gonna beat this horse till it’s dead. You’ll have 2 choices, with the lesser of the two EVILS being democrat.
I can conclude, due to my experiences and research done at Rebuildtheparty.com, that Republicans WILL NOT budge from their “Reefer Madness” stance.
They are fine with being cultural xenophobes. They will cater to their rich, ignorant, fascist base and waging the War on Drugs forever.
Loved Reagan? So did I as a child. What an actor. Remember his VP…. just quietly waiting to rape our country. Don’t trust ANYONE they put out there
Quote from their 2008 platform:
“We encourage the use of advanced technology to monitor nonviolent criminals”.
Vote Republican in 2012 and they’ll get their claws back into our social culture. Mandatory drug testing for all by 2020? Keep voting Republican.
That last sentence is pure hyperbole of course, but I wouldn’t put ANYTHING past these nutjobs anymore.
Why do I loathe Republicans so much, even though I am one? Well, I loathe the Dems too… but Republicans have fooled far too many of my Christian brothers and sisters. They are NOT “socially conservative”; they are morally bankrupt.
Brian #38: Yes and…? You’ve made no point here except that you know how to use caps lock. Maybe you should try re-reading my statements?
Mark #48: You are right that no drug should be prohibited. Possession of anything should not be illegal. However, it will be tough to convince the government to make all drugs legalized and regulated. That is why we will see drug “decriminalization” long before “legalization” (except in the case of marijuana, which will obviously be legal soon).
Sorry for double post, posted anonymously by accident
“If by 2012 Mr. Obama still doesn’t have legalization in his “vocabulary”, then I guess I’ll be voting for a new president.”
I’m gonna beat this horse till it’s dead. You’ll have 2 choices, with the lesser of the two EVILS being democrat.
I can conclude, due to my experiences and research done at Rebuildtheparty.com, that Republicans WILL NOT budge from their “Reefer Madness” stance.
They are fine with being cultural xenophobes. They will cater to their rich, ignorant, fascist base and waging the War on Drugs forever.
Loved Reagan? So did I as a child. What an actor. Remember his VP…. just quietly waiting to rape our country. Don’t trust ANYONE they put out there
Quote from their 2008 platform:
“We encourage the use of advanced technology to monitor nonviolent criminals”.
Vote Republican in 2012 and they’ll get their claws back into our social culture. Mandatory drug testing for all by 2020? Keep voting Republican.
That last sentence is pure hyperbole of course, but I wouldn’t put ANYTHING past these nutjobs anymore.
Why do I loathe Republicans so much, even though I am one? Well, I loathe the Dems too… but Republicans have fooled far too many of my Christian brothers and sisters. They are NOT “socially conservative”; they are morally bankrupt.
I am on a social news site where every day republicans and liberals argue and namecall every day about just about every issue imaginable.But the one issue where almost all agree is ending the failed drug war.Every time I post a story by NORML on the site both sides comment about how surprised they are about agreeing on this issue with people they generally can’t stand.
The politicians are so far behind the public on this issue it should be declared a national emergency.
After watching Obama’s speech in PA the other day,listening to his empty words about creating new jobs while ridiculing an audience member who asked about legalization I refuse to vote for him again.
It’s time for the public to demand that the Industrial Hemp Farming Act to be passed and to tell cowardly democrats to stop killing it in committee.
I’m with you Matt @ #67.
I ask all the time, when will the people take off the blinders and stand up and use their voice/power?
When I speak, people think I’m a nut job. I dont care.
Those in power dont care about the people, it will always be this way until Americans are no longer comfortable. At this rate, the way our leaders are ruining us, That wont be long. Then the gloves come off, along with the blinders.
Hey stomp, jury nullification is wonderful after one is arrested but it onlt treats the symptom not the problem. Like your enthusiasm though. Keep stompin
Gotta love Obamabot reasoning… It would be political suicide to legalize marijuana in his first term but he is going to campaign for his second term as a legalization or reform candidate? Think about it, that makes no sense.
You know, you could just vote for candidates that ACTUALLY will reform laws. Libertarian party or green party.
And think about it, even if Obama does legalize, he will SURELY ensure that marijuana is extremely regulated. Do you REALLY want our government having a heavy hand in marijuana? They destroy everything they touch! I’d rather have it on the black market. We need deregulation and freedom. Libertarian party is where it’s at.
The problem with legalizing other drugs such as heroine or cocaine is that these drugs quickly become addictive to the extent that the user no longer has a free choice of whether or not to use, and that these drugs also cause serious impairment in functioning so that the user is often too impaired to maintain a job, largely because the addiction means that they can’t go long enough without the drug to get through a single day, and that these drugs can cause death from overdose.
UNLIKE MARIJUANA, which produces NONE of the physical addiction, CANNOT lead to death from overdose, and DOES NOT impair a person’s functioning signficantly enough to interfere with daily activities.
I won’t rule out Obama because of his apparent stance on legalization, so far he is the most open of any presidents we’ve had on this topic. I am disappointed with Kerlikowski who comes from a state where cannabis is widely used and decriminalized in his state, so he truly should know better than to spout the same old dark ages crap about reasons for keeping marijuana illegal.
but oh, this is promising, folks. I seriously believe 2010 is going to see some serious discussion on this subject, possibly even a vote.
this number is higher than obamas fucking approval rating, it obvious which one we want more.
but neither that pot nazi or obama will fully leagalize it in their terms. 2012 Ron Paul
Yeah, Nobama promised us a LOT of things he has yet to deliver upon. Now, to his defense, all along he has said that he is against legalization of cannabis. However, he went back on the second half of his comment, and that was that he wants drugs to be looked at as a public health issue and not a criminal one. I remember him saying in more than a couple of interviews that he wants to decrim the plant nationwide and push for rehab centers for hard (not hardER) drugs. Now, the way I read into his decrim comment was to make personal possesion a private issue, much like Alaska. I think THAT (at the very leate) would be the way to go.
Okay so… I’m sorry but can you explain the inaccuracies of the other polls and why they are non-representative? You just took the high point and used that as the correct one. The “general social survey” which sounds the least biased, the last time it was taken, seems to be around 35% or so. I highly endorse the legalization of marijuana, but should we really be deluding ourselves about the general consensus? Doesn’t that just put us at a disadvantage of not working to change it hard enough?
#72 Actually Fire, the fact that the harder drugs are so addictive is why they should be controlled by professionals instead of gangsters. Street thugs don’t ask for I.D. and they pray on the young and the true addicts. Even the issue of doing certain jobs while intoxicated on substances such as you mentioned can be addressed with strict control.
After of trillions of dollars and nearly a hundred years of effort the addiction rate still stands at 1.3 percent of the population so we need to move to harm reduction on substances with real addiction potential.
I’d rather see that money go into education and treatment as those are better forms of prevention and addiction reduction. Plus they cost less than prisons.
Yes that puts people who are currently dealing addiction issues (like me…8 years meth free, woohoo!) at risk but the focus needs to be on the future.
1.3% in 1914 at the time of the Harrison act; 1.3% when Nixon declared war; 1.3% now. We need real change.
The difference between then and now is the vices the gangs fight over. We need to remove the black market windfalls from illicit drugs that finance the gang-bangers and cartels (just like legalizing liquor and gambling did) because they obviously don’t handle it very responsibly.
I’m with ya on the rest of your thoughts though… Keep it fired!!!
Oh yeah. Does anybody know what happened to the SB714 pitch?
“per cent” is one word = percent
We have all heard the crap but not like this crap! There’s a dude in mission viejo cali that wrote a letter to the newspaper and they published it about the horrors of pot…
This should be a time for cannabis prohibitionist’s to reconsider their failed efforts to control personal freedoms and join the 21st century but the guy who wrote this crap went back to Anslinger’s day and age with his ranting about the evils of pot!!!
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/marijuana-223759-pot-drug.html
I have to admit though that with talk of the new drug policy still being aimed at demand it doesn’t look like we can really expect significant change to happen soon. Even if they decriminalize it still leaves the black market in place.
A lot of people don’t realize the shift of wealth that will occur with the legalization of marijuana. And it will not be a big boon too taxes,or wealth for a few,it will be the transfer of wealth from the few too the many
because the flow of untaxed dollars will stop going across our borders. Anything that keeps the present pricing of marijuana in place just keeps the cartels and gangs in business.
And only by enough Americans growing their own marijuana will the market be removed.
And the legalization of hemp will give a big boost too our economy with new jobs and cheaper raw materials,but you must remember that what hemp replaces also has jobs and income for people that will be lost. The help with our environment will be substantial though because of the increased absorption of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere,as hemp is one of the most efficient at removing carbon dioxide.
The production of commercial marijuana will be a thriving business,but if the price of marijuana doesn’t drop to less than 1/3 of the street price,you
are just underwriting the existence of the black market. And the people that are too lazy,or too stupid to grow a weed will be the customers of big business and the taxes.
Our government created this problem but it will take the people to fix it. Look at the way they are handling health care,what started out too reduce health care costs has done nothing but raise the estimated cost for everyone,and the idiots in Washington will screw up the end of prohibition the same way,if we let them.
I am a big supporter of Marijuana legalization, and hemp of course. Hemp has many uses that make it a valuable crop America’s farmers should have the option to grow.
That said I really wish people would stop touting the “amazing” qualities of hemp oil, at least as being useful for biodiesel. If you do the research you’ll see it’s just not that good of an oil crop. Not that we can’t use the oil along with the fibers, but no sensible oil crop farmer would grow hemp just for the oil.
As far as the real work of legalization and decriminalization, that is being done on the state level. We won’t be seeing change on the federal level until the house and senate can feel secure voting for it. That won’t happen until their home states have decided to change.
to #33 grandma,
ill bet there is plenty of stories of how alcohol has destroyed families and lives- my family was driven apart by the effects of the bite from liquor. loved ones loosing control of their emotions from it. loss of life is a part of its toll. cannabis truly brings people together. quite a comfort in my opinion.
Regarding the Ad on TV that shows a couple of guys smoking weed and as they are leaving a fast food drive up window they mow down a little boy on his
bike . Well , OK……. it’s cut short of the boy actually being mowed down but , that’s what this maker of this Ads intentions are ……smoke marijuana & you’ll end up running over little kids . As any Pot consumer knows , this is highly unlikely to occur solely from the use of Cannabis but , most likely happen while driving D.U.I. so , it is the opposite of what they are trying to make you believe .
This Ad was sponsored by big Alcohol to deceive you into thinking that if you smoke weed you’ll become oblivious to your surroundings & plow down little
kids . Using innocent Children in a life threatening situation ( and we don’t know what happened to that kid ) for the purpose of profiting through deception just shows are low these scumbags are . This Ad in itself is a form of Child abuse & they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law for it .
Its the Law, not the plant that destroys live.
i really wish they would legalize marajuana, but the obama administration is getting ready to try to curb damand they will do this by drug testing in the workplace randomly and often they may even try to drug test to keep people from getting a license to drive factory drug testing randomly is starting to happen more every day so these crazy politicians are no way close to legalizing all they are doing is ruining smokers lives
Now more than ever is the time to organize and bring these statistics to the people. This is definitely an issue that needs to be brought to the public eye. With the economy in the state it is this can only bring it up. Marijuana is not the taboo it was in yesteryear. Now more than ever it permeates the media and every day life. With movies, music, and even clothing supporting it it is time to act. Congress need to admit it is wrong and get with the program.
As far as age goes 18 seems like the right age to me. Its old enough for you to smoke cigarettes, buy weapons, and risk your life for your country, I think it is the proper age to be able to smoke a joint. That is just my opinion though. All i care about is the legalization and taxation of this plant.
So please, write lawmakers, discuss this subject with people, make it known you smoke cannabis. Only when people realize that this is not a select few stoners, but millions of people smoke will we be able to pass this.
–The question asked was “Do you support or oppose the legalization of each of the following drugs?” with no further explanation.
With no prompting about the possible economic benefits of taxing cannabis or points about reforming criminal justice,
with just the blanket term “legalization” which could lead to a range of solutions from strict marijuana pharmacies to open farmers’ markets,
in other words,
a question most likely to get the LOWEST favorable response, we just got 53%.
WHAT would be the result if they used language designed to get the MOST favorable response ????
60% ? 62% ? 67% ????? LET’S FIND OUT !!!
RE; #44; “Public opinion has been in our favor for quite a while now, and the stigma of voicing that opinion is finally wearing off.”
–well said. i agree completely there are still many “in the closet”, because of fear of loss of job or kids.
RE; #48 AND #66: “You are right that no drug should be prohibited.”
–ANY prohibition is TOO MUCH prohibition.
it gives the cops unconstitutional powers, and MAKES US ALL GUILTY, untill proven innocent.
–also, it shows we are for freedom and justice for everyone, as opposed to “we just want to smoke pot”.
if i “just want to smoke pot”, why do i want to legalize things i do NOT use myself ?
because it is about freedom for all, not just for pot smokers, but for everyone.
addicts are human, and deserve help, being ass-raped in jail is NOT going to help them.
re; #71; You know, you could just vote for candidates that ACTUALLY will reform laws. Libertarian party or green party.
—yes, they are not afraid to support this issue, have done so consistantly, and they do so without the winks, laughs, and “stoner jokes”.
all real reform starts as a 3rd party issue. (40 hour workweek, child labor laws, women’s right to vote, etc.)
re; #82 ; “no sensible oil crop farmer would grow hemp just for the oil.”
–to get oil, you need seeds.
to get seeds, you need flowers. (what smokers call buds)
if the farmer can sell the buds at fair price, say $10/lb (ten dollars a pound), he can easily cover ALL production costs, (and probably also make a good profit)
so the oil will be totally FREE, and the fiber is just more PURE PROFIT.
–so maybe all farmers will stop growing wheat, corn, tomatoes, cows, pigs, ect. and switch to cannabis.
and we will all get very healthy eating the only available food, hemp seeds
(best nutritional content of any food on earth) and hemp leaves.
#79 – Wonderful postings associated with that article from readers. Rather articulate and non abusive as well.
The column is a good example there of what prohibitionists are aiming for in California right now. Specifically they are challenging the current methods and not the law. But they are also using poor judgment in doing that as they always include gateway theory, “safer *normal* medicines as preferred choices,” and all the other nonsense that seems to sell to the White Hair coffee clutches around the country. They are doomed in their efforts for sure sine they cannot stick to a simple platform without coloring it with propaganda. Though I fear in their doing so does carry some weight: William James (1842-1910) The father of modern Psychology, “There’s nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it.”
I was glad to see the majority of well crafted responses in response to this drivel. That paper cannot be blamed for wanting to voice this though. Those are the type of inflammatory people who get them eyeballs and make them money. Who knows, they may have wanted to simply punish him publically for his stated opinion.
@ #89 I agree the next poll question should be: “Do you favor Regulating & Restricting Cannabis to Adult (over 21) Markets only?”
TO wg711…. what kind of name is that? Anyway 21 is by no means young, alcohol is legal at no more than 21. You can drive at 16. You can hunt at 16. You can fly at 16. You can vote and die for your country at 18. So how do you think 21 is to young…… seriously how? I really want to know what makes you think that!!!
GREAT SCOTT..Ya got it!
young people can vote and serve in the military but do not have the freedom to possess legal medication, what a joke.
On the way to Viet Nam most of us were under 21 with intensive training and a license to kill. But NO! We were to young to buy what might have been a final ice cold Bud.
Hail to the Chief…..
There would be no way for the government to regulate cannabis distribution without making it more available than it already is. They would have to sell it cheaper, and in convenient locations :0
marijana is a word from the govenment to scare people in the old days.ill stick with reefer.
#96 what country are you from?i only speak american.im all for legal pot.nice to hear from you evan if i have no idea what you said.
It’ll be so funny if we get it legalized for medical purposes in all 50 states by touting all the taxes the Gov’t can make off of it only then strike back and get any taxes removed after its legal because you shouldn’t have to pay taxes on medicine.
K.I.S.S
Legalize It.
Tax It. It ALONE would pay for health Care!
Expand It’s Economic Potential.
K.I.S.S
So what? The people are powerless in Imperial America. The government would rather kill people then let them smoke pot. Someday they probably will. We are dealing with the FED here, and they high jacked this nation along long time ago. They have a vision for a new world order, and sadly decrim is not on the agenda. Ever wondered why the war on drugs seems more like a war on the poor? That’s because it is. The FED wants to exterminate 80% of the worlds poor by either locking them up or killing them and burying them in mass graves. They will go to these extents in the future to keep people off of pot. Why? Because marijuana has the power to cure humanities inperfections. God says so right in the bible. The biggest enemy to the federal government is God, and religion. Their plan for the future is to unite the world under one flag, destroy faith, and eventually declare themselves as god. Anyone who gets in the way will die. Look it up people. Wake up people. It is the truth. The spirit of the anti-christ is upon us.
[Editor’s note: Wow…what a Christian-oriented rant! If you really believe that the men and women who choose to work for the federal government are evil, anti-Christian murderers, you’re indeed nuts. Please take the militia, one world government rant somewhere else as the federal government’s cannabis prohibition is indeed bad, but your bizarre rant is far worse, and scary!]
#100- Again wow…I’m not arguing that the war on drugs isn’t “a war on the poor,” but I’m on probation for possession paying out the nose to my home state (20 bucks a cup for MY pee)…cops might be bigoted, but the law is about money, period. I’m a white, middle class male, college student, and my PO and the outpatient courses I was forced to attend certainly are interested in milking the most out of me, and I’m not poor.
Prohibition isn’t about the poor, it isn’t about race, and it for sure isn’t about Jesus. Or at least it shouldn’t be, because I can’t speak for all the 10-dollar-an hour heroes and Senators who belong to The Family. Sounds like you do too, Sowhat.
It’s about money, man, our pleasant vices are being managed by the feds, that’s it.
I agree with # 101 to a large degree as I am in exactly the same situation as you, white male but I don’t have money. it cost me more for my lawyer ($2000.00) than it did for my fine and court costs ($922.00). it was my first offense so I qualified for a conditional discharge. But when I went across the street from the courthouse and spoke with a black auto mechanic who had also been busted for weed, he said I got off easy because I was white. So there is truth to both sides. It is a racial issue and an economic issue but they both have a common denominator in that the law was founded on a LIE and therefore the law is UNJUST and should be DISOBEYED at every juncture until the law is REPEALED and cannabis is once again LEGAL.
St. Thomas Aquinas said: “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust”.
Isaiah 10: 1-2; “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withold justice from the oppressed of my people”.