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New York Sate Capitol, Albany
The voters of New York State want to see marijuana legalized. A new Quinnipiac poll of the state found that 51 percent of New York registered voters think the use of marijuana should be made legal in their state. On the other hand, only 44 percent of voters in the state think marijuana should remain illegal.
As with all polling about marijuana, there is a large partisan and generational divide. Democrats and Independents strongly support legalizing marijuana in their state, while Republicans oppose the move by nearly a two-to-one margin. The poll also found that senior citizens are the only age group that opposes legalization. A significant majority of all voters under 65 think pot should be legalized. This means the long term support for legalization is almost guaranteed to grow
Opinions about marijuana reform in New York State near perfectly match opinions nationally. In their national poll earlier this month, Quinnipiac found that across the entire country 51 percent of American voters think marijuana should be legal and 44 think it should be illegal.
Unfortunately, since New York State law doesn’t allow for citizen’s initiatives, the only way marijuana will be legalized is if the state legislature decides to change the law. All indications are that it will be awhile before the legislature listens to their constituents on this issue.
The state legislature still hasn’t approved a medical marijuana law or reduced the penalties for possession in “plain sight.” Both changes should be political no-brainers at this point, given that the electorate wants go significantly further on the issue of marijuana policy reform. Hopefully, this new poll will at least encourage the legislature to take those smaller steps in the coming year.
Photo by wallyg under Creative Commons license.
8 Comments
Oakland cites surprise medical pot backer
Bob Egelko
Updated 10:41 pm, Wednesday, December 12, 2012
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-cites-surprise-medical-pot-backer-4113767.php#src=fb
“In papers filed late Tuesday with the magistrate who is considering the fate of the Harborside Health Center, lawyers for Oakland said patent and research records reveal that ‘the government believes in the medical efficacy of cannabis’ – contrary to the Justice Department’s insistence that marijuana is a dangerous drug with no legitimate use.
Cedric Chao, a lawyer for the city, cited a 2003 patent application by the U.S. government that said cannabis compounds are ‘useful in the treatment and prophylaxis (prevention) of a wide variety of oxidation-associated diseases,’ including certain types of strokes and immune-system disorders.
Chao quoted another patent application, by two government scientists in 2009, that referred to the ‘healing properties of Cannabis sativa,’ or marijuana, that have been ‘known throughout documented history.’
‘How can the government credibly deny the benefits of medical cannabis when the government itself is funding cutting-edge research proving the medical benefits of cannabis and seeking patents based on such research?’ Chao wrote.”
So tell me again how the DEA can argue, in front of the DC Court of Appeals, that marijuana has no medical benefits? It’s obvious that their schedule decision was arbitrary and capricious. And that they lied to the court.
wow
Do they want “Right to Work?” After all it’s another “choice.” In the grand scheme of things this is a bs subject. The plutocrats ultimately don’t care if you smoke or eat weed as long as the public is passive and willing to be nothing more than serfs.
As long as the dopers have their weed they will accept right to work. Priorities?
O has plans to recriminalize it in CO & WA.
Pleasantly surprised that both the Colorado Fed delegation, via DeGette, introduced the mandated legislation that Amendment 64 called for to the US House floor, ahead of schedule.
Gov. Hickenlooper signed the bill into law earlier than required too.
Nay-sayers are gonna nay, but fuck ‘em, don’t have any use for them.
It’s amazing how once weed was voted in by popular vote that all kinds of politicians are scrambling to get in front of the parade.
Allasudden, they have the necessary cover.
well said.
thanks.
peas!
If pot is legelized.there will be less people getting in trouble and the police officers can patience to more serious crime.And it will help cancer patents,seizures,migran headaches,and so on.And it can help with jobs and money that our state can use since we have no money for the things our state needs.You can regulate the amount and there wont be so meny jails filed. And tax payers won,t be paying out there butts for over populated jails.