Consequences of Prohibition
Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
An EMC Research poll commissioned by Oaksterdam University and conducted between March 16 and 21 has found that California voters are ready to offer majority support for taxing and regulating marijuana possession and sales and production. That's a first.
Some 54% of those polled believed marijuana should be legal for adults, while 39% disagreed. When asked if they would support an initiative to allow for the consumption of cannabis by adults with taxed and regulated sales by local option, 53% said yes, while 41% said no. When the hypothetical initiative was divided into its two parts, taxed and regulated sales by local option garnered 55% approval, while allowing adult consumption got 50%.
When asked to consider the hypothetical that such an initiative had passed and their county or city was voting whether to tax and regulate marijuana sales and production, 59% said yes, while only 36% said no. Some 58% of respondents said that marijuana should be treated the same as (50%) or less seriously (8%) than alcohol.
The poll also queried voters about which arguments for marijuana legalization and regulation resonated most strongly. The following arguments were most persuasive: It would ease access to medical marijuana for people who need it (57% said more likely to approve), it would keep pot from kids (54%), it would allow police to focus on violent crime (51%), and it would take business from street dealers (50%).
Somewhat surprisingly, economic arguments were not as persuasive. Arguing that legalization would provide funding for social services would make only 45% more likely to approve, that it would provide billions in tax revenues, 40%; that it would create thousands of jobs, 37%.
Finally, after going through the questions, the poll asked again whether they would support cannabis legalization for adults with taxed and regulated sales and production by local option. This time 62% approved and 39% disapproved. That's a 9% improvement over the answers given at the beginning of the poll and suggests that a little concentrated thought about the matter raises approval rates.
The poll comes less than a month after Rep. Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) introduced a AB 390, which would legalize marijuana in the state, but only once the feds clear the way. It looks like California lawmakers need to start catching up with the people who elect them.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
Can't we call for legalization, without taxing and regulating?
I get a bit tired of always hearing the call to 'tax and regulate' in the same breath as the call for legalization. Isn't legalization the right thing to do, whether or not it would allow a new source of tax revenue? Aren't there better ways to raise money than through a new, regressive, 'sin' tax?
In reply to Can't we call for legalization, without taxing and regulating? by Anonymous (not verified)
Absolutely agree
Regulated, maybe (depending on the type of regulation proposed), but taxation no, not really necessary. We all know that the more money government receives, the more oppressive government gets. So, a resounding YES to re-legalization and a resounding NO to taxation.
I'm pro-choice on EVERYTHING!
WILL MOVE FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM
I am retired and ready for a change. If that means moving to California I will move for regaining my rights given by our founders. Just pass the law to end the tyranny called the war on drugs. I will be on my way and work to change the other 49 states to do the right thing. End the myth quit destroying our children at the rate of one every 36 seconds. Take the money wasted and fund Univesal Health Care for all Americans. DON'T BUY THE LIES!
CFHJ
You don't need to tax and regulate Marijuana for Personal Use
First of all this is not the first poll to find a majority of Californians support out and out Re-Legalization. Second of all why should we need to tax and regulate it? It appears all of these groups seem to have a hidden agenda to do this. If they can't tax your tomatoes, why should they get to tax your Marijuana?
See how they ask the question:
"When asked if they would support an initiative to allow for the consumption of cannabis by adults with taxed and regulated sales by local option, 53% said yes, while 41% said no"
If you really want to destroy the Cartels the MERP Model is the only viable answer and I highly suspect that Soros, who funds all of these organizations, expects to profit from his efforts which go back to Prop 215 in 1996.
More on MERP:
The MERP Model for Re-Legalization will destroy the Mexican Drug Cartels and much, much more. Please visit and post the following link far and wide. This subweb is both for understanding MERP and implementing MERP. We need everyones help on this. Get on the mailing list now! Let's Re-Legalize Marijuana in 2009 World Wide.
MERP Headquarters
The Marijuana Re-Legalization Policy Project (MRPP)
http://www.newagecitizen.com/MERP.htm
Simply Decriminalize Marijuana...
We first need to simply decriminalize marijuana for personal use. Allow responsible adults to grow a "reasonalbe" amount for themselfs without criminal punishment. This would quickly bring down the price of weed down to where the profitability is gone. 80% of the cross border drug war would be dry up, along with the corresponding crime and criminal element that surrounds it. Could that be such a bad consequence for allowing otherwise responsible adults a little more personal freedom?
Pitiful
I haven't smoked pot since college, and I want it decriminalized. I'm furious that my tax dollars, in part, fund a senseless, impractical, and inefficient war on marijuana. I, as a tax paying citizen want those hard earned dollars used where it's actually needed. Imagine how much money would be lost if cigarettes (FAR more toxic) and alcohol (problematic as well) were "illegal." (All that money lost on taxing/regulating and ridiculous amounts of money funneled into prosecuting the manufacturing and sale of products people will use regardless). What a joke! The archaic mentality of too many people in this "free" country is shameful and embarrassing.
100% for marijuana legalisation
If the government makes so much money off of pruducts that can get you very sick, what can they possibly have against the good old Mary Jane? People are just too blind to see how much less harmful it is than tobacco or alcohol. As a matter of fact I'm a bit sick in the head and I don't know how I wouldn't go crazy with nothing to smoke for more than a month or two.
I live in Paris and once I'm through with college I'm counting on you to have legalised it so that i can move to California.
One more thing: I despise drug dealers in the streets. Some finance weapondry for terrorists. But to hell with those bastards once grass is legalised. Legalised weed be reglementated, therefore of better quality!
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