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Slightly more voters in California still oppose legalizing marijuana for recreational use than support legalization, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner. Overall support for marijuana legalization among California voters remains basically unchanged since 2010.
USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times (5/17-21)
Q.55 Do you think marijuana should be legalized for general or recreational use by adults?
46% – Total Yes
50 – Total No
33 – Yes, strongly
13 – Yes, not so strongly
8 – No, not so strongly
42 – No, strongly
4 – (Don’t know)
1 – (Refused)
In 2010 California voters rejected Proposition 19, a ballot measure which would have legalized marijuana, by a margin of 46.5 percent Yes to 53.5 percent No. The percent support for the ballot measure is identical to the support for legalization in this new poll.
Overall, it is not surprising that less than 20 months after decide an issue at the ballot box voters opinions on that issue would have changed relatively little. Yet it is slightly disappointing given that nationally support for marijuana legalization has increased slightly since 2010, but apparently support hasn’t grown much in the state of California.
Over the long term, though, support should grow in California for legalization from the natural demographics change. There is a huge generational divide on the issue. A majority (53%) of all voters under the age of 50 support legalizing marijuana but that support is countered by strong opposition from voters over 50. Only 39 percent of voters over the age of 50 support legalization, while 56 percent oppose, and an overwhelming 66 percent of senior citizens think marijuana should remain illegal.
The poll also found that voters in the state continue to strongly support medical marijuana, which was first approved by voters back in 1996. An incredible 80 percent support allowing patients to consume marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation, while just 17 percent of voters oppose.
6 Comments
Until the drunks in the legislature can figure out MJ intoxication and impairment levels compared to a six pack there is little hope .
They can’t get it through their thick heads alcohol kills and there is not a single case of death from a MJ OD like there is alcohol .
How about a little equal protection under our constitution.
Do you think it is possible that since the DOJ crackdown on dispensaries, etc., that Californian’s just don’t want more feds at their doorstep? I can only imagine the gestapo methods that will be employed when a state finally does legalize, tax and regulate. It won’t be pretty. I guess all of those FEMA camps will come in handy.
I think you have to draw a distinction between support for legaliztion/decriminaliztion and that Proposition.
The way I understood the Prop I prob wouldnt have voted for it. As a tobbacco user I know how taxes get added every few years. While not always ideal, most pot users have a current connection. Lets just say you pay $50 for bag now. Once you get the government in it would cost you easily $100. Then $120..then $150. For me the prop was essentially voting to let the govevernment tax you more.
IMO, I couldnt vote for anything that went beyond a sales tax like any other product. If I can grow it in my backyard, I dont need or want the government “regulating” anything.
The movement has always been fragmented. Opposition in the 2010 camapign led to a hodge podge of initiative efforts to get on the 2012 ballot. Big donors witheld support, they all failed.
Now the Medical Purists are treating non medical users like Untouchables in some weird cannabis caste system. Its happening in Washington and Colorado.When one faction outwardly scorns another, no progress is possible.
Prohibition is a law based on Lies. It punishes all for the problems of a few. Failure to rally around that central point will ensure millions more are arrested.
And that is tragic.
With the upsurge in federal prosecutions who in their mind wants to answer this question, honestly? FDL does a masterful job of reporting the invasion of our most personal and individual preferences. After all that who’d agree to give out that info? Medical evidence and health benefits be damned: ” We’re from the federal gov’t and we’re here to bust your sorry arse. Now, get out of that sickbed and put your hands up. Now, grandma, now! “
I hate to be that guy but I have to, people like you are the reason cannabis is still illegal. It sucks but it is true. Taxes are horrible, yeah, but are they worse then 800,000 people being sent to jail or prison scarred with a permanent record for the rest of their lives that will hinder their ability to become happy successful members of society. No they are not.
But that really isn’t even the point. The point is the cost benefit analysis between a little good mixed with evil and full blown evil. Which is going to be more difficult. A) Making cannabis legal without taxes on it and legalizing the ability to grow it yourself ALL AT ONCE or B) Legalizing it with taxes and possibly not the ability to grow it at home and then working towards those goals and achieving them later on down the line? A is way more difficult and coincidentally B is the exact same path every single other progressive movement has taken throughout history. After the civil war African Americans didn’t become completely equal, it took time and work. More importantly THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE GOT THE SORT OF EQUALITY THEY WANTED OR DESERVED AT THAT TIME. So which is better? Being closer to what is right or further? Obviously closer. So stop nit picking over things you can go back and fix later, which is what every single progressive movement has down through out history, because the nit picking is what divides the movement and hinders or stops it.
If everyone wouldn’t have been wining over these exact same things in 2010 IT COULD HAVE PASSED! A HOUSE DIVIDED DOES NOT STAND! STOP DIVIDING! I mean it is currently illlegal to have it in any way shape or form so why not make possessing it at least legal so when someone illegally buys it from a friend and gets stopped later with it HE DOESN’T GO TO JAIL EVEN THOUGH THE PURCHASE WAS ILLEGAL.
That’s my tirade for the day. Thanks for listening.