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.
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.
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”
I hope these numbers continue to improve as a reaction to the federal government’s heavy-handed tactics against medical marijuana states. Obama and his goons may be furthering the cause of legalization. I have to admit, I was a little ambivalent about the need for full legalization as long as states could vote medical use in (of course, I DID vote for prop. 19 in CA). Now I am sure that full legalization and regulation is the only answer, the only way to get the feds noses out the states’ business. I think what Obama’s “justice” department is doing is shameful. I don’t think he deserves the support of voters in medical marijuana states any longer, especially not in CA.
Keep running the economy into the ground until the politicians in D.C. slash the cannabis prohibition budgets. The supercommittee should slash cannabis prohibition money down to the negative numbers, meaning zero dollars allowed to be spent on it and the put in the congressional legislation wording that allows for regulation and taxation. Both fuckin major parties have to give yes-vote recommendations for cannabis legalization.
Get the pressure on the U.N. assholes to attend this big cannabis conference in November, and get them to clear the way for legalization.
Get the fuckin White House to call off the dogs by means of their response about cannabis legalization for the We the People petition. Also, get them to release Marc Emery! And the others!
Increase the Occupy Wall Street protester numbers, and get them to add cannabis legalization to their agenda. I mean, talk about fraud, waste and abuse. The public is having a fraud put on in with all the lies and junk science and cherry-picked studies that show only the detrimental effects of cannabis because of the mission statement of the DEA and ONDCP. The Feds are wasting money like crazy on cannabis prohibition enforcement, and they are abusing the American people by waging war on them. The war on drugs, war on marijuana is still a war on the American people by their own government.
i say lets get it on 2012 election ballats nation wide
[Paul Armentano responds: There is no ‘nationwide ballot’ aside from federal elections. Only approximately half of all US states allow for voter initiative/ballot issues.]
My first response was to question the statistic,
‘too good to be true’ and all that…
But, being as we have:
The CMA on board-
http://www.cmanet.org/files/pdf/news/cma-cannabis-tac-white-paper-101411.pdf
Versus this bullshit:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028346/
I thought I would share one of my favorites:
To make sure that WE THE PEOPLE make sure that we get them to spend all their stolen and fund money by throwing seeds all over the USA. THEN watch them blow all their money till all is spent trying to get it all cleaned up. We can crap on them with their own bs. Overwelm them any we can , just don’t stoop down to Nyc cops level and start to beat on non – violent protestors. We can remain non-violent and still win against them. Hit the money belt first!
…the War on (Certain American Citizens Using Non-Pharmaceutical, Non-Alcoholic, Tobacco-Free) Drugs…
Don’t forget untaxed!
This means the discussions are only going to get even more heated!
By the way, there is more people support for legalizing marijuana than there is in favor of Obama.
Well, there kind of is going to be a nationwide ballot. It’ll be Ron Paul, running as an independent! Anti-DrugWar? He’ll get my vote.
It’s amazing to achieve this milestone with virtually no prime-time media support or coverage.
If you look at the bottom entry on the chart at Gallup,you will see my age bracket@ 31%.
When we were marching on DC in the late 60’s and early 70’s,,the count was around 14>16%.
Either my generation has become more mellow towards legalization(unlikely)or marijuana users from those days are outliving their str8 peers.
NAH-NAH-NA-NAH-NAH,,we told you so!!!!
The year before NORML was founded, support for legalization was only 12%!. It took a while, but today we are finally the majority.
Congratulations to all who smoke and those who support our rights.
Keith Stroup
NORML Founder and Legal Counsel
*Food for thought…..
50 percent of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana, up from 46 percent last year, according to a new Gallup poll.
It was the first time in the survey that the number of people favoring legalization was higher than those opposed.
The support for legalized marijuana use has continued to climb since Gallup first began asking questions about it in 1969. Then, only 12 percent of Americans supported legalization, with 84 percent opposed.
Throughout the late 1970s into the 1990s support for legalization remained in the mid 20-percent range, with it passing 30 percent in 2000 and 40 percent in 2009.
The latest poll shows that support for legalized pot is highest in the West (55 percent), among liberals (69 percent), younger Americans (62 percent), and men (55 percent).
Dr. Christopher Glenn Fichtner, author of “Cannibanomics,'” appeared Monday on The Dylan Ratigan show, where he spoke about the potential benefits of legalizing marijuana. He endorsed the California Medical Association’s decision last week to call for legalization of the drug, but with regulations similar to alcohol and tobacco.
“There are numerous products on the market that have risk,” Fichtner said, citing alcohol as one example.
“It’s very hard to argue on a medical basis that herbal cannabis or marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol,” he said. “The idea is that regulation offers the opportunity to improve the safety and reliability of access to specific products.”
He also blames marijuana prohibition for “playing a major role in the initial criminalization, the initiation into the criminal justice system for a very large number of ordinary American citizens.”
The Gallup survey was based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 6-9, 2011, with a random sample of 1,005 adults.
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A 2009 federal survey on drug use found that 16.7 million Americans aged 12 or older had used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, an increase over the rates reported in all years between 2002 and 2008.
Pot is legal for people with doctors’ recommendations in 16 states, though it remains illegal under federal law. Last week, the federal government vowed to crack down on dispensaries selling marijuana in California, where thousands of outlets have sprung up.
A Gallup survey last year showed that 70 percent of Americans favored making it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana in order to reduce pain and suffering
[Paul Armentano responds: You can watch the video of Dylan Ratigan’s interview with Dr. Fichtner, and it is worth watching, here: http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/17/8370150-support-for-legalizing-pot-hits-all-time-high.%5D
Always had the suspicion that war on drugs was a result of wall street figuring back in the 70s gonna send a lot of jobs overseas to boost profits. Well what are we gonna do with all people outta work? Can’t put them all on welfare. Put them in jail then. Wa la war on drugs was born by the cheif crook Nixon and a new industry was created. Now we have to press on and get the thugs to do the right thing. FREE THE FLOWER you White House
To Keith and all of the great people of NORML,
Thanks to your efforts and all of the people and organizations dedicated to repealing cannabis prohibition we are seeing the accumulative result of years of putting the truth out there.We are the majority! I love hearing that.
hey…
this seems kind of important.. maybe
HIT THE LINK
ENTER SOME QUICK INFO
AND HIT UP CONGRESS FOR THIS:
The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (H.R. 2306) Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011
pvox.co/CdiFqY
THESE are the stats when I just did it:
POPVOX Nation
91% Support
9% Oppose
(3513 people)
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2306
so you can click on it
This is great news for the movement and when the 65+ crowd finally thins out then prohibition will fail. I always use Dick Cheney as the gold standard and when he transitions to his new home (hint… below ground)I’ll be breaking out the bubbly to celebrate the planet finally coming into balance and the herb will be legal.
Now it’s time to demand for a full investigation into WHY marijuana is not fully legal for our citizens. Fire Michele Leonart for her role in Fast and Furious and replace her with Ethan Nadelmann.
Go Gallup and the figures are probably even higher since people are reluctant to even admit they are for legalization with someone doing a survey on marijuana.
Nationwide is on your side.
I couldn’t resist saying that.
Save the United States! End Cannabis prohibition.
Jesus said to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us. None of us would want our child thrown in jail with the sexual predators over marijuana. None of us would want to see an older family member’s home confiscated and sold by the police for growing a couple of marijuana plants for their aches and pains. It’s time to stop putting our own family members in jail over marijuana.
If ordinary Americans could grow a little marijuana in their own back yards, it would be about as valuable as home-grown tomatoes. Let’s put the criminals out of business and get them out of our neighborhoods. Let’s let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
Here’s one way that IT IS REALLY WORKING: Arresting the criminals and collecting a fee from registered growers (and bringing in thousands of dollars to support the county budget); what a great plan! This is the way to build a better America! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/2011/07/the-pot-republic-one-sheriffs-quietly-radical-experiment.html
The current proposal before Congress, bill HR 2306, will allow states to decide how they will regulate marijuana. You can email your Congressperson and Senators at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml to discuss HR 2306.
And a big THANK YOU to the courageous, freedom loving legislators, governors, and countless others who are working so hard to bring this through! You’re doing a great patriotic service for all of America!
Occupy Lamar! 3 opportunities to meet and greet the Congressman (Lamar Smith, R-TX) currently stoppering H.R.2306 in his capacity as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Wednesday, October 19th
10 a.m.: Kerrville Public Meeting
Location: Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater – 910 Main Street, Kerrville TX
3 p.m.: Bandera Public Meeting
Location: Bandera Justice Center, 3360 State Highway 173 North, Bandera, TX
Thursday, October 20th
9 a.m: New Braunfels Public Meeting
Location: McKenna Events Center, 801 West San Antonio, New Braunfels, TX
(copy block from the Congressman’s House home page, 10-17-11)
They, that is, the government, are controlled by the rich scions of industry who wish to protect their profits in alcohol (immensely profitable) and law enforcement (slave labor, LEO gadgetry). They are the real enemy. Occupy Wall Street has the right idea.
I read thru some comments against the legalization,
and I was shocked to find things like these:
-We can not yet field test drivers who have smoked marijuana
-Every slimeball that gets caught with marijuana needs to be imprisoned for not less than 50 years without any possibility of parole.
-Most people voting in favor either are smoking, or ignore reality.
-Let me get this straight – this is to remove restrictions on marijuana?? Talk about stupid – how about some common sense here for a CHANGE.
-Drug/narcotic legalization–or even decriminalization–will only hasten the social, medical, and economic decline of the United States of America. If H.R 2306 becomes law, America will be on its way too becoming as great as The Netherlands
Normally I am disinclined to ‘educate’ someone DIRECTLY… but in those cases, it might be required.
WHO THE FUCK WOULD IMPRISON SOMEONE FOR SMOKING CIGARETTES, DRINKING, AND TENDING A GARDEN??
Marijuana is often:
-smoking
-becoming ‘intoxicated’ to a degree
-gardening
WTF IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?!
=====
=====
HERE
a question, regarding the legality and logic of marijuana:
Aside from the whys and what-nots…
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS ARE WE, AS A COUNTRY, WILLING TO ACCEPT INCARCERATING FOR A PLANT?
If the real symptom of marijuana is ‘euphoria’ or that its metabolites are present in one’s urine, then I would argue those who would imprison people over such failed concepts should be deemed unfit to be in a civilized society and forcefully given the standard Thorazine dose for those who belong within the confines of a padded cell.
is an Ideal Society one that has 49% of the populace incarcerated for a plant, which in no way affects the other 51% percent of the populace?
IS THAT DEMOCRACY???
if you have to check my piss,
then the problem isn’t mine ITS YOURS, SHITHEAD.
I hope this is the last spasm the Feds go through before rolling up their tents and going home. The tail is wagging the dog, and with the CMA backing legalization, maybe others will turn. Getting the media educated is the first step. And, when the G calls Marinol “legal marijuana”, you know they are having it both ways.
After 70 years of Govt propaganda and brainwashing, these numbers would never be possible without the internet! Whether they (the dirtbag prohibitionists) like it or not, the truth is quickly being spread!
I am sure I will never understand how any of our nations leaders could possible be at peace with themselves by meeting in a private location, drinking expensive alcohol and smoking cuban cigars on the taxpayers dime, and plotting against good Americans because they choose to consume cannabis. My inability to understand this isn’t because I’m stupid! It truly doesn’t make any sense to someone with an IQ above 100!
It is tragic that someone like Carl Sagan had to keep his personal use a secret in spite of his proven genius!
I would like to know something…..
Can someone tell me how I can stop paying taxes to the USA…more importantly, how do I stop paying state taxes? Why should I pay “STATE” imposed taxes if STATES rights on VOTER APPROVED medical marijuana do not superced that of FEDARAL, MORE IMPORTANTLY CONGRESS APPROVED laws on medical and recreational use? Can someone tell me how I stop paying city taxes? If states rights dont mean shit, then why should I follow city laws, pay taxes on anything that I buy, then I am expected to take it up the ass if I decide to smoke a joint?
I have an idea. We must rally with OCCUPY.
I have another idea. Lets take all the laws put in place by “criminals” and throw them out of law. If Richard Nixon did watergate, all his laws sponsered or cosponsered are now null and void. Etc Etc
Hey, here is Rick Perry’s idea. He wants to send the USA military into Mexico to “control” the drug cartel. Seriously? WOW, this is almost as ANTI AMERICAN as Michele Bachmann’s voting on porn, gay rights. I really dont understand what this country has come to.
Obama, why did you switch? I voted for you. I am tired of listening to PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS lie out their ass. Here is my last idea. We either fire congress, or the President. We all understand that it has failed us. We understand that democracy as we know it is BAD, just HORRIBLE. We need something new. Thomas Jefferson once said that in 200 years, the US Congress and checks/balances would need completely redone. Well, we all have access to the internet, either directly or allowing a family member to vote. We all have SSN’s and we all can make a password. We would have a time frame to vote, but each individual person would have a vote with his/her SSN and PASSWORD, then the yes/no is clear. If the law gets 51% then it passes. NO EARMARKS. NO BULLSHIT. I understand that there are flaws. But I think its a start. If this would be the “idol” as the President’s vote, then a TRUE democracy would be established. We have the technology.
I just hope that either something is done soon and it be something done by a vote. Or I do fear that people will not continue to be so “nice” and may use their Constitutional rights of using their “arms”.
We the People are done being stomped on. Understand that hemp and marijuana are the only way out of this problem. GO GREEN. Make food, oil, fibers, papers, etc etc out of hemp. HOUSES can even be made. Hunger can be wiped out in a decade. Stop the BULLSHIT.
STOP LISTENING TO BIG MONEY, PHARMA, OIL, TREE INDUSTRIES, all the people paying you to vote THEIR way. Let US choose. We voted in Medical marijauan. If you take away the law voted in by the people, for the people, then we are NO BETTER THAN OLD ENGLAND. We have rights, given to us by our Founding Fathers, God, and ourselves. We the people tell you what our rights are. Stop killing Americans.
Will this make a difference in the eyes of the feds? It is great news though.
Now that there is a growing body of newly discovered scientific evidence that shows that using marijuana improves health by lowering one’s chances for developing cancer and Alzheimer’s disease the support for legalization will only grow. This data is so impressive that more and more people will soon want access to cannabis products. That’s why I wrote “Marijuana Gateway to Health,” to serve as an educational tool about these very new findings. It is a resource for all Cannambassadors, ambassadors for the weed.
You do realize that nothing will be done until the polls start showing 70 to 80 per cent? We have to fight the special interests. Ask the candidates if they favor legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana. Make them aware of your views. Don’t vote for Prohibitionists.
People can still sign the WH petition.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/legalize-and-regulate-marijuana-manner-similar-alcohol/y8l45gb1?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl
I swear, I feel like a broken record pointing this out on just about every story, but if you look at the graph I like the heavy downward slope as you go up in age to ages 65+, where support is incredibly low…not to mention the fact that often times older individuals fall into the category of conservatives/GOP, the other two groups that contain a considerable level of resistance to the idea of legalization.
Unfortunately, while as anyone with grandparents knows it’s usually fairly difficult to get elderly individuals to change their ideas, the fact is that those 3 groups creating the most friction will likely dissipate over the years, and all those younger groups that didn’t grow up in a time where they were told that marijuana made black men rape white women, or that smoking would make you murder everyone around you, are going to fill in, so as myself and many others often say; this isn’t a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
It doesn`t matter why people want marijuana illegal anymore. All that matters is to use some common sense. The facts about alcohol and marijuana are out there for all to see. But the ONLY way the idiots against legalizing marijuana will see the light is to level the playing field. Do a study on anti-pot people. What percentage of those people have alcoholic beverages in there home? What percentage of those have children in the home? I don`t hear any of them trying to elliminate being drunk around babies,do you?
We have lived in prohibition of marijuana our entire lives. Let the drunken hypocrites remember that once alcohol was illegal. And 100`s of police officers were murdered by alcoholics. I don`t give a fuck about any drunk. And anyone who gets drunk around children, and are for illegal marijuana, can lick me where I poop.
The United States government is controlled by rich, drunk, hypocrites. Greed is the reason why marijuana will NEVER be legalized. But take away their alcohol, and thedrunken hypocrites will show their true face.
@ Paul Armentano
I sent an e-mail to norml if you could please make sure it gets forwarded to you!
Thanks
[Paul Armentano responds: You can e-mail me directly at: paul@norml.org.]
I am a writer for Benzinga.com, a finance and politics site. I’m hoping a few of you might enjoy my take on this awesome new poll.
http://www.benzinga.com/news/11/10/1994941/are-americans-ready-to-rock-the-ganja
Marijuana legalization isn’t a non-starter issue….it’s a non-stopping issue!
thank you norml! this news has really made me feel better about myself considering this has informed me that over half of the american public doesnt neccesairly view me as a criminal for using pot because trust me ive certainly been treated like one judicialy. i feel more like a human being. america rolls on!!!
Guess the moderaters on this site are biased. My opinions are censored. Truthful resolution will not happen..reasoning does not work..all the polls, statistics will not legalize weed..people will legalize weed, it is just the tip of the iceberg in the scheme of things..the whole world is tainted by USA policy..so just hide in the corner and be screwed or join me and let’s fix this.
[Editor’s note: Your advocacy–and anyone else’s– of violence as a way to reform cannabis laws was indeed censored…Such is not published on this webpage.]
there are 13 marijuana petitions and they are all good and they all say something different and have different approaches.
I’m really hurt that Steve Kubby sent me a glaringly insulting e-mail because I wrote my own marijuana petition (the lucky 13th) rather than sign his.
#1 I live in Vermont, not California.
#2 My petition is an umbrella petition that covers marijuana and hemp and cannabis and all underlying issues.
#3 I am very poor and live in a town population 3,000 and I have dial up internet and windows 98.
It took me 3 weeks to get my first 150 signatures to qualify to go “live” at the White House and now, from last thursday to now, I have about 2,500 signatures and need about 2,500 more.
#4 the MORE marijuana petitions there are that get 5,000 signatures, the better for the entire movement of legalization!
Please! Huury & click & sign petition http://wh.gov/gP1
(case sensitive upper case capitol P)
at the White House “We the People” now! deadline Oct. 22
“Demand an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to End
Marijuana, Marihuana, Cannabis and Hemp Prohibition”
This is a real umbrella petition that takes in all
the complaints of the 12 other marijuana related petitions.
http://wh.gov/gP1
President Obama allows Adults and children age 13 and up
to sign this petition.
You can have a 99.9% majority vote for marijuana to be legal in this country and all its going to do is give the FEDS a stiff upper lip. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION is their BEACON OF DARKNESS at the end of the TUNNEL OF LIGHT for us. The will of the FEDS is not the will of the people. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION the cancer that feeds the drug cartels and the multi-billion dollar prison system in AMERIKA. Corporation and Big Pharma greed and control of what we can ingest into our bodies, NATURAL vs SYNTHETIC. THE NEW GREEN INDUSTRY sitting at our feet and all we we have is a government in denial instead a government trying to create jobs and reverse the atrocities of the DRUG WAR. The moral majority of FEDERALISM and ORWELLIAN MENTALITY the killer of our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. Still flicking my BIC under MARIJUANA PROHIBITION and FEDERALISM, but your are not going to give me that feeling that I am some type of criminal because of unjust laws and freedom of choice of what I want to ingest. To the 21ST CENTURY INQUISITORS, it’s always better on the DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. IT’S TIME FOR THE CHANGE, MR. PRESIDENT. DID’NT YOU INHALE LIKE THE OTHER TWO? IT’S TIME TO 420 US.
Truely a day to celebrate. The majority of Americans now either break the law, or sympathize with those who do. That’s real progress towards victory at the polls in 2012.
50% is awesome, but I want it to get a healthy amount higher! Congratulations to Keith, Paul, Rick, Willie and all others at NORML. Thanks for sticking with it through all the years.
Nothing will change while Lamar Smith heads the Judiciary…
I think this majority will only get larger as time goes by. The day will come when they will have to end prohibition. I only hope I live to see the day.
even I am starting to think we should legalize it
This is uplifting. If it keeps moving this way we could see some victories on some of these statewide legalization ballot measures. I also believe by 2016 we could have a presidential candidate on the democratic side in favor of legalization if liberal support is near 70% and Dem/Indie support is at 57% it will only grow for the next 5 years barring any unforseen problems. It could become a litmus test in the D presidential primary. 35% on the R side will likely grow as well and it could also let a candidate slip through on the R side by plurality and get an R nominee in favor though that is less likely. Of course this also depends on one of the prohibitionist Rs not getting elected president. Doesn’t matter on the D side since it will be open primary regardless of whether Obama wins another term or not.
Our numbers are gonna get higher and higher as opposers are gonna get lower and lower. All of the people who were born around the refer madness generation are all getting old and dying out while the newer generation, who were exposed to marijuana more thus not looking at it as something bad, are alive. This is the main reason the polls are getting better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jes3o4odQXg
Here’s a chance to ACT on this: We can contact our Senators and Congressperson directly at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml to discuss HR 2306, the bill that would repeal Federal prohibition.
Manners, civility, and persistence will pay off!
And a big THANK YOU to the courageous, freedom loving legislators, governors, and countless others who are working so hard to bring this through! You’re doing a great patriotic service for all of America!
It’s interesting to note in the graph of support through the years just how little the government was able to drive down support for legalization despite a massive anti-marijuana campaign.
One way to help recalcitrant older folks to come around is to emphasize the treatment for pain. The anti-cancer properties of marijuana should also interest them greatly.
My father retired at 65 and was dead of cancer within two years. I’m 62 and very interested.
I say about time!!!! More people think mj should be legal. We need to take a vote for this, the goverment will drag their feet till hell freezes over!
Get out the vote for mj legalization!!!!
October 18, 2011 8:26 PM
ltr
Begin community discussion
We have all seen the TV clips of the lady in the coffee shop and the lawman in the jail corridor asking if we should regulate marijuana. America has spent billions trying to enforce marijuana prohibition with no evidence of success and no expectation of success in the future. In essence, under prohibition, we have abdicated the government’s primary obligation to regulate and control the production, distribution and sale of marijuana.
Prohibition grants these regulatory functions to violent criminals who control the market with “law of the jungle” tactics. Drug dealers and street gangs profit immensely from the production and sale of this drug simply because our laws prohibit legitimate businesses from entering the market.
As a result illegal marijuana is sold to our teens by black market criminals who require no proof of age for purchase. Teens regularly report that marijuana is easier to purchase than alcohol, simply because no legitimate business is willing to risk losing his liquor license for the meager profit from a sale to an underage customer. No such license to lose for the street dealer.
Can we begin a community discussion on this issue to evaluate if our current policy is working?
Robert Wiley, USAF Retired
Colorado Springs
Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/success-126966-prohibition-marijuana.html#ixzz1bFGiFpxy
We have all seen the TV clips of the lady in the coffee shop and the lawman in the jail corridor asking if we should regulate marijuana. America has spent billions trying to enforce marijuana prohibition with no evidence of success and no expectation of success in the future. In essence, under prohibition, we have abdicated the government’s primary obligation to regulate and control the production, distribution and sale of marijuana.
Prohibition grants these regulatory functions to violent criminals who control the market with “law of the jungle” tactics. Drug dealers and street gangs profit immensely from the production and sale of this drug simply because our laws prohibit legitimate businesses from entering the market.
As a result illegal marijuana is sold to our teens by black market criminals who require no proof of age for purchase. Teens regularly report that marijuana is easier to purchase than alcohol, simply because no legitimate business is willing to risk losing his liquor license for the meager profit from a sale to an underage customer. No such license to lose for the street dealer.
Can we begin a community discussion on this issue to evaluate if our current policy is working?
Robert Wiley, USAF Retired
The DEA is crapping in their diapers!
TIME interview with Calderon Oct. 17th, 2011 — He is ‘on the verge’ of saying “YES” to legalization. Just read his responses! He *clearly* is swaying towards legalization of marijuana.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2096353,00.html
Lawrence O’Donnell gave a nice commentary on this subject last night on MSNBC, after showing the same Gallup Poll graph.
He mentioned the hypocrisy of the politicos on this matter, and noted MJ’s virtually harmless effects compared to those of “booze.” Several times he emphasized that these same politicos who routinely reject the legalization of MJ, just as routinely get “high” on “booze,” often in public and at public functions.
Perhaps the editors at NORML, or someone else on these boards can post that link. (I confess I have no clue how to post a link myself.)
Thanks, Longtime Puffer
Great commentary from O’Donnell. Check the latest story I just posted to the NORML Blog!
Cannabis is just like Peace. They don’t want you to have it & it’s never issued.
Imagine how it would’ve polled if the govt. hadn’t spent all those billions over the decades, propping up this faulted, lie, greed and racist laws. Yet, somewhere, some prohibitionist is smiling, seeing his “fools errand” in action. Even though their policy is doomed, they will resort to a “scorched earth” tact. They’ll go kicking and screaming, doing as much damage as they can can on the way out the door.
But, “This is the end of the beginning” Winston Churchill.
Legalize and Regulate marijuana as we do alcohol. The model is in place..
Dems and Reps, different pages from the same bad book!
LEAP.cc
Check this out,
a good argument, to a nice tune…
I found this on a blog and wanted to re-post it because it makes a lot of sense:
Not so long ago there were laws barring women from justice if they were raped within marriage. There were laws that criminalized men who had sex with men. There were laws that prevented black people from enjoying anything like the rights white people enjoyed. Ask any woman over 70 about what our sex-equality laws used to be like.
We might wince at these examples today, but for centuries laws like these were considered right, just and fair. And obviously some countries used to have laws that were full-on horror stories. Some still do.
Cannabis use is a matter of personal choice, of taste, not morality, much less the criminal law. If you grow a plant and smoke it, you are not harming anyone, except possibly yourself, and thus should be none of the state’s business. The laws against cannabis use are about as absurd as the laws against homosexuality used to be. The scaremongering language used to defend them is about the same too.
It seems as though 50+ years of government propaganda of this plant has failed. Americans are finally realizing that this drug is no where near as harmful as most of you have been brainwashed into believing. yes i am speaking to those who believe marijuana should not be legalized. The majority of you are fools. How can alcohal and tabacco be legal and not marijuana?
It’s about time to stop the bullshit and legalize marijuana for everyone!
Medicinal clinics are great but every adult should be able to purchase just like alcohol!
While I would love to see it legalised across the board naionwide,I have ben focusing my agenda mainly on medicinal marijuana and legalisation of it nation wide.I’m in KY and have foubf that we have only one tiny little chapter in Richmond.If anyone fronm Ky reads this and knows of other groups and or wouldlike o get one going let me know at charles03902hotmail.com.I am extremelt serious about getting this to haapen in my life time and can use all of the help I can get here in KY so if you’r from here and want to chat about this and or work on this plse let me know,I am as i said extremely serious about this
It shows that all the individual effort is working..Marijuana being legalized and regulated is as much of a asset as any we have ever had..website:http://www.marijuanafreedomcoalition.com
Something like 80% of Americans sad no to the 780 billion stimulus proposed by President Bush.Same as the health care and stimulus 2 proposals of President Obama and friend.Point is if 80% of Americans want legalization of marijuana it would not matter.
I agree …. not only must the people want it – they must also feel that they need things to change in order to exert any kind of pressure on the politicians. I suspect that if the question was about needing a change in the law rather than accepting a point of view then percentage in favour would be lower.
It depends on what polls you go by.There are so many it’s treally hard to get any exact and reliable figures.Last time I checked which was well over a month ago it was 77 percent of all voting age Americans are demanding that medicinal marijuana be legalised and not on a state byu state basis but nation wide which is logical as compared to state by state.If they use the state by state method then peole are simply going to go the the closest state to there;s and will have someone they know get it for them,simple enough but if it
s nationwide then every state and local government gets to enjoy the tax revues it would generate which would be a huge amount needless to say.This holds true as well for the federal government who are going to make more than any state government is gonna make off of it.But still with over 77 percent thats over 3/4’s of the country and if you add the 18 to 21 crowd then it becomes more like 90 percent easily and considering a person cn put his/her lives on the line by joining the military then it only makes sense that they should be allowed to use it as well but we are talking medicinal here nd not all out legalisation.I find it extremely disturbing that the federl government would aprove a new pain killer thats almosty pure hydrosodone which in it’s smallest amounts is extremely addictive and in the larger amounts can be deadly yet when it comrs to harmless medicinal marijuana of which they do have all of the very well documented and scientific eveidence or [proof that it really does work they have a serious problem.they have also aproved anothe new med in which the extremely addictive and deadly oxycodone is the base element of it and it’s been aporved to be sold over the counter.Now we al know that in a matter on one-two weeks after it hits the streets somebody will figure out how to extract the oxycodone out of the med so it can be abused by a variety of methods.None of this makes any sense at all whatsoever.What it shows me is just how corrupted our congress and senate truly are.Their getting bribes and gig payoffs in exchage for voting no all of the tim for medicinal marijuana and it’s past time they were exposed of doing htis and yes it can be done of we really want it to happen which is whats needed to happen
Right now we have over 77 percent of all voting age adults demanding that medicinal marijuana be made legal nation wide.State by state simply would not work at all,it will have to be for everyone this way the VA’s could also prescribe it for so many things from permanant chronic pain which I have as well as PTSd which I also have m among a host of other military realted disabilitys and it works a hell of a lot better thn the loratab10’s which don’t work all that well anymore ever since they cut back the tylenol additiv from 500 mgs down to 325mgs so now I also take percocet 20’s plus 90 mgs of morphine every day plus the heavy duty tranws and sedatives.After much expierimenting over th years I have found that marijuana used in small amounts work 10 times bettter than all of these other narcotic meds thay currently have me taking.It works faster,lasts longer and no side effcts like with the meds they use right now plus there’s no danger to the kidneys and or liver either.If used witha vaporiser or in eadibles it totaly eliminates any smoke therefore no lung or braeting problems.I feel that we deserve to use what we wish without being punished for using it and that it is our right to do so
It doesn’t matter what the American people say or want. The american people didn’t want bush and he was president again. The government does NOT want competition. Theres to much money in the prison system.
It does not matter what the people of our country want. The democratic way is a thing of the past. The globalists will do what ever they want. It has been proven time and time again.
Well who gives a shit? Only illegal immigrants give a shit
Make. It legal. And build. Better. School’s. And things. For our youth. Instead. Of taking. Our money locking people up
We will force the supreme court to decide once and for all when the november initiatives for legalization pass. The fed full court press is because they realize the genie is out of the bottle and their controlovervthe people is diminishing. Scotus is going to slap down all of obamas laws and legalization os mjand another states right fight over weed will seal the deal for power hungry bureaucrats loss.
Marijauna prohibition is a cruel and oppressive miscarriage of American justice
Stop the ARD’s and fines for responsible citizens who are otherwise law abiding but wish to smoke pot… its that simple.
I think the government is corrupt, cruel, greedy, selfish, two faced im sure a bunch of them work to enforce the laws the want the rest of us to follow but probably don’t follow themselves and due to them being in a corrupt law system have each other’s backs. They got this mentality that it’s them against us when it’s really happy news for everyone their families can to get benefits from this amazing plant and them and there families are also probably exempt from any legal action regardless of what type of drug they find that can help cure this or that they seem to do what they want and america is no longer free and hasn’t been ever since they started this insane drug war that does no good at all and cost all of us a hell of a lot of money in taxes everyone bitches about taxes well here let me fill you in if drugs were legal would we need the dea, fda, epa, etc probably not and further i have see the documentary supper high me why the hell does this guy the star of this movie true story have the right to smoke pot in front of the white house without fear of being arrested for his medical condition you wanna know why because he has shown that the federal government has given him and only a select few others medical marijuana that they themselves regulate, grow, and package and send to him and a select few others and they will not arrest them and no cop can either for their medical marijuana so why do they get it no one else does i guess they never thought that one of their patients would make a documentary about it and share this info, it’s so unfair that he and approx 10 others are exempt from all our marijuana laws no matter what state their in and can’t go to any jail on state or federal levels due to federal trumping state laws they can be free to go anywhere in the us and never will they ever spend one day in jail what makes them so special that they are above all else and for those who hasn’t seen it yet go rent it or stream it from netflix if they got it it’s call “SUPPER HIGH ME” made in response to the documentary supper size me. It’s all a scheme that the law has used against good law abiding otherwise loving families who they have pulled into our jails for the new age of slavery, to ruin lives, the health of others etc PEOPLE WAKE UP PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERYDAY HORRIBLE DEATHS DUE TO THIS DRUG NOT BEING LEGAL AND AVAILABLE AND IT’S SAFER THEN ASPRIN COME ON GIVE ME A F ING BREAK WE NEED TO PROTEST, EDUCATE, AND SUE IF WE GET ARRESTED FOR DISCRIMINATION TO OUR RIGHT TO HEALTH, PROHIBITION, ETC LET’S GET RID OF MAKING HONEST HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO COMMIT NO CRIME OTHER THEN BUYING MEDICINE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE.
I feel the only reason why the Federal government won’t legalize it is mostly due to the billions of dollars spent on the war against drugs, if they legalize it now they know the public might view them as hypocrites. The government doesn’t need anymore bad publicity, they do enough damage themselves without raising their hands and saying “My bad, we’ll make it legal now”
The old guard is falling. Just a matter of time until they all occupy a dirt covered box. We need people to start confronting our legislators at every single turn. Every debate should have a marijuana question. Every time they’re campaigning around the nation they need to be asked about it at EVERY stop. We can’t allow them to treat it as a non-issue as Romney did in a recent interview. Until they understand that this is not some minor quibble to deal with they won’t even acknowledge as an issue.
The reason why the southern states don’t want legalized marijuana is because they profit to so much from arrest and seizure of property and cash. Here in Texas they love to parade the amount drugs,money, and property that they seize. They sell the property and divide the money between the state local police departments. Plus all the free labor from imprisonment and profit from legal fees,its a win win for them
You gotta be kidding, I feel like we way back in alcohol proabition times. If congress was smart,(coarse we know that answer), we could balance the budget just by simple tax on weed. How much longer are we gonna debate something thats gonna happen anyway Just like alcohol. We way behind and our own worst enemy. Lets move it USA!!!
until the american take up arms against the Prohibition. things will not change. lets look at the civil wars being raged as of this moment around the world to make change happen. i am prepared to do this. i have nothing to live for because of the pain i suffer each and every hour of the day due to the mind set of people who do not NEED this important drug people
It’s sad but true. If we lived in a true democracy it would be legal by now. Support for it is in the majority, hence, it should be legal. We can’t give up… we have to keep fighting the fight. And we will. And eventually I think we’ll prevail.
So much negativity here when there should be positive vibes flowing all around! With the votes taking place in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon this November, the end of prohibition is right around the corner! Once just one state makes the jump to legalize, prohibition in the country will not only be unreasonable to maintain; but impossible. With support in Colorado for legalization eclipsing 60% in JUNE, and over 50% support in Washington according to Public Policy Polling, this November, we WILL see legalization in at least one region of our country.
In my opinion, the 2012 national elections will see President Obama reelected for 4 more years. During these 4 years, support (and common sense) will both continue to grow. By 2016 full marijuana legalization in our country will be a major ballot issue for the president elect. I hope you’re ready to start a revolution, Colorado. I plan on helping you do it.
Look on the bright side guys. Hopefully in 25 years all of the anti legalizers will be dead and congress will be full of todays youth. If Americas majority voted legality already then how long will it take?
To be perfectly honest with you, it would actually improve the ecomony of the usa, I have as well spoken to amish organic farmers and the feed of these grasses would deminish the need for organic medicines and provide a crop that could nurish their dairy farms..Call me a plundering idiot, but we need to step out of this politcal game and step our own step to our own needs …Remember when 10 dollars could fill youre gas tank? That rational thinking of the economy fail is real ….Eventually the United States need to realize and understand that its “we the People” and take the steps to reassurance of the ones who pay youre salary….How was there a law in the first place on plants that grow on the earth we live on? Next youre gonna tell me I cant eat dirt if i want? Lets get realistic …”we” is more a mere word of politcal bullshit nowdays is it not
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This outlandish move by the controllers if alcohol, tobacco, and firearms plan these moves of course, but its great to see the people saying what they want, hopefully we will stand up against any further tyranny.