Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
Washington state's I-502 marijuana legalization, taxation, and regulation initiative appears headed for victory with increasing support, according to the latest KCTS 9 Washington Poll, released last Thursday. The poll had support among likely voters at 55.4% in surveys conducted during the second half of October, compared to 47.1% in surveys conducted in the first half of the month.
Similarly, opposition to I-502 was declining, from 40.1% earlier in the month to 37.6% in the second half of the month. The figures suggest that undecided voters have been breaking in favor of the initiative.
The 55.4% support figure includes 48.7% who are "certain yes" voters, 4.3% who are "yes -- could change," and 2.8% who are "undecided -- leaning yes." The 37.6% "no" figure includes 35.5% "certain no" voters, 1.6% "no -- could change," and 0.5% who are "undecided -- leaning no." Some 6.8% of voters remained truly undecided, while 0.3% said they would not vote on I-502.
I-502 is winning majorities of every age group except seniors (44%), including nearly three out of four (74.8%) voters under 30. It is running strongly (63%) in the progressive, heavily populated Puget Sound area and among Democrats (69.1%), men (64.2%), and independents (60%). It is doing less well with women, although women supporters (48.0%) outnumber opponents (40.6).
One-third (33.4%) of those surveyed have already voted, the poll found.
Pollsters surveyed 722 registered voters between October 18 and 31. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.6%.
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
I want 60%
I want 60%
Please drag everyone you know to the polls. TIA
Here are some of the Prohibitionists Lies refuted with cited facts;
“What's the affinity for laws conceived, born and nurtured from lies greed and racism?
Marijuana is the 21st Century "Boogey Man". It suffers from purely unfounded.
accusations and fears with a corrupt political system having an interest in keeping it illegal along with the Prohibitionists who profit from it.
Lie #1 Marijuana is a Gateway Drug.
Marijuana is NOT a Gateway Drug. Here's a 12 Yr. Univ. Study that says so;.
Andrew Hryckowian - University of Pittsburgh.
www.pitt.edu/~ugr/Hrych2.pdf
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Raven-... Marijuana is not a.
“gateway” drug.
Lie #2 Marijuana is addictive.
Marijuana is no more addictive or and less harmful than Caffeine;.
Dr Henningfield is a former NIDA Staffer;.
Addictiveness of Marijuana - ProCon.org.
www.procon.org/view.background...
urce.php? resourceID=1492
In April 1997, after reviewing the literature, Dr. Henningfield changed
his ratings of marijuana and caffeine's tolerance and dependence to 5's.
and 6's.
Lie #'s 3 & 4, Marijuana has not Medicinal Use and is Dangerous.
In 1988, a DEA Administrative judge wrote, in a report,
Commissioned by the DEA; "16. Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of.
the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any
measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within a.
supervised routine of medical care."
http://www.ccguide.org/young88...”
For good measure, Med Marijuana doesn't increase teen use.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57456999-10391704/medical-marijua...
wont-boost-teen-pot-use-study-finds/”
The wait is almost over
I've been waiting in anticipation over the outcome of this initiative as well as the one in Colorado and Oregon for a very long time now. Hard to believe the moment is finally here... hard to believe in less than 48 hours the votes will be cast. It's an exciting time... but not all of the excitement is good. I feel in my heart at least one of the measures will pass, but I know it will be close. This issue has been so controversial for so long, and the public is only just starting to wake up as a whole. I once posted on this site that if the measures don't pass, it'll be the end of everything. Now I believe that win or lose, history has still been made, either way. Eyes are starting to be opened, and ways of thinking have started to change.
This is the beginning of a new era. It won't happen overnight. Even when/if the measures do pass... it will only be just another baby step in what has been a long journey--one that isn't even half over yet. But it will be another step in the right direction.
Reformers
Unfortunately not all those involved in Reform get it - I hate to say that there is a lack of critical thinking - and LOTS of fear but that is the deal.
Hopefully 502 will pass and we will have the first real statewide decriminalization measure done. Then we will find that our state did not fall apart.... but actually allowed civic resources to be used for better things.
Greg
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