Poll shows strong support for legal marijuana: Is it inevitable?

[struggle4progress]

A national Rasmussen Reports poll found that 56 percent of Americans back legal marijuana regulated like tobacco or alcohol. Trends show support on the upswing.

By Daniel B. Wood, Staff writer / May 23, 2012

Los Angeles

A new national poll shows a clear majority of Americans in favor of legalizing and regulating marijuana – "the strongest support ever recorded," according to one pro-marijuana activist.

The Rasmussen poll found that 56 percent of respondents favored legalizing and regulating marijuana similar to the way alcohol and tobacco cigarettes are currently regulated. Thirty-six percent were opposed.

Critics have dismissed the survey, saying its questions were asked in a particularly leading fashion – a charge that Rasmussen contests. But experts who track the issue say the poll is consistent with the overall trend of steadily rising acceptance of marijuana use.

Despite California’s failure to pass Proposition 19 in 2010 – which would have legalized recreational use – some state may legalize marijuana soon, perhaps as early as this November, says Robert MacCoun, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, who follows marijuana laws. That means it is time to consider shifting the debate from legalization to consideration of how it should be done, he adds ...

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0523/Poll-shows-strong-support-for-legal-marijuana-Is-it-inevitable

[TexasTowelie]

1. Anybody wanna get high?

TexasTowelie approves this poll.

[Alexander]

2. I think it must be a requirement these days - you have to be a Drug Warrior to be President.

Obama was pro-decriminalization once upon a time, but that changed as soon as he took the oath of office.

Biden's been a well-known Drug War fanatic his entire career.

Something tells me that even if a presidential candidate ran and won on a platform of legalization, the powers-that-be would have a "discussion" with that candidate in between the election and the inauguration, miraculously changing his or her mind.

[Life Long Dem]

6. Actually

Obama flipped flopped on the issue before the election in 2008.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/31/obama-flip-flops-on-pot/

[Alexander]

9. Yes, but he was consistently saying he wouldn't use the DOJ to go after medical marijuana.

He flipped 180 degrees on that after the election.

The last sitting president to dare suggest we even decriminalize marijuana was Jimmy Carter. And we know how that turned out.

[Hippo_Tron]

10. It basically was decriminalized during Jimmy Carter's era anyway

It depended on what state you were in, of course, but it wasn't a serious felony everywhere like it is now.

[Alexander]

13. It's not a "serious felony everywhere". That is simply incorrect.

In fact, many states that criminalized marijuana in the 1970s have now decriminalized it and/or legalized medical marijuana.

My own state of Connecticut is a good example. It was only recently decriminalized here and medical marijuana is about to be signed into law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_States

[sofa king]

14. Your observation contains the answer:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Faithful execution of the office means upholding the law as it exists, not as we wish it to be. Congress has long since asserted its authority over the legality of marijuana. The President has very little leeway in upholding the law as Congress defines it.

A President more willing to flaunt the Constitution by failing to enforce, tanking court cases to set favorable precedents, packing AAG offices with co-conspirators and so on would be able to act in a more... unitary... fashion.

But this President doesn't do that. Which is one of the many reasons I like him.

[Alexander]

18. This President is not even attempting to get these asinine laws changed.

On the Drug War, he's been a total failure, and has gone 180 degrees from the positions he took before he got elected.

I have many reasons to vote for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney. But the War on Drugs isn't one of them.

"Congress has long since asserted its authority over the legality of marijuana."

And who is responsible for determining the scheduling of marijuana? Hint: NOT Congress.

"Two federal agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, determine which substances are added to or removed from the various schedules"

Obama could easily lead on this, like he did on gay marriage. He hasn't. Please stop making excuses for him.

[sofa king]

20. I understand your frustration.

And you do have a point, that the President's agencies can re-schedule the drug.

But the political ramifications of doing that are probably more negative than positive this election season. It opens the President up to being "soft on crime," for example, a favorite Republican shillelagh. Remember that conservative America is based on the premise that humans are not supposed to have fun. Mess with that, and you're likely to accidentally motivate them in a year when we're counting heavily on their indifference.

In just two years, however, a much more favorable political climate portends, and marijuana legalization might just find itself at the center of another cultural counter-push. Just as gay rights are quickly gaining momentum and can now be used against the GOP as a weapon for the foreseeable future, marijuana legalization may be the most potent issue in the mid-term elections of 2014.

But you know how that goes. When it comes to dope, every politician says, "keep your powder dry... because we're going to snort it in the conference room after the hearing." So don't give up, please!

[MrSlayer]

3. No. They will fight it tooth and nail.

As long as there is more money to be made off of it being illegal, it will remain illegal. Prison industrial complex, property confiscations, fines, legal fees. And then there are the biggies, big pharma, big chemical and the beer companies that do not want it cutting their profits.

I don't see it happening anytime soon.

[arcane1]

7. And truckloads of federal tax dollars delivered to local police departments

The war is such a gravy train for so many interests, it will be very challenging to somehow out-influence ALL of them.

But we can try

[msongs]

4. legalization will slash the welfare police/prison industrial complex, can't allow that can we? nt

[zbdent]

5. maybe in 20 or 30 years ...

[sakabatou]

12. When Gen X/Y get in power, perhaps

[zbdent]

15. we've seen what happens when the "baby boomers" got into power (and I'm a tail-end

b.b.'er) ...

The "me" generation has decided that "It's all about me ... what will Gov't do for ME? And SCREW everybody else ..."

[sakabatou]

16. I don't know

I don't think that'll happen. But we've seen Republicans do that.

[otohara]

8. It's So Convenient

to go to the dispensary - everyone should have that choice.

Colorado will pass this year.

[marlakay]

11. Won't happen until the younger folks 18-40

show up at the polls as much as the 40 up do….

[polichick]

17. Not as long as big pharma is in charge!

[Vidar]

19. The only thing inevitable in this country is more insanity.