Posted on 12/05/2012 6:45:57 AM PST by CNSNews.com
Americans favor the legalization of marijuana 51 to 44 percent, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday morning.
The poll showed a substantial gender and age gap on the issue:
-- Men favored legalization 59 to 36 percent, but women opposed it, 52 to 44 percent.
-- Americans 18 to 29 years old support legalization 67 to 29 percent, while those over 65 years oppose it, 56 to 35 percent.
-- Respondents between 30 and 44 years old also support the idea of legalization, 58 to 39 percent, while Americans between 45 and 64 are more closely divided, 48 to 47 percent.
The poll noted that the racial split evident in American politics is “barely noticeable” on this question, as 50 percent of white voters and 57 percent of black voters favor legalization.
Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said of the data:
"With the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes legal in about 20 states, and Washington and Colorado voting this November to legalize the drug for recreational use, American voters seem to have a more favorable opinion about this once-dreaded drug."
Brown believes the legalization of marijuana in the U.S. is inevitable: “It seems likely…given the better than 2-1 majority among younger voters, legalization is just a matter of time.”
The federal governemnt has no enumerated power that would enable them to either criminalize or legalize marijuana. To borrow from Clarence Thomas, they've "appropriated state police powers under the guise of regulating commerce", but they hold no legitimate authority by an "original intent" reading of the Commerce Clause. Having usurped the power from the states, they proceeded to delegate it to the UN by treaty, and now they claim it's out of their hands and they can't do anything about it.
Over the course of several years in the program (AA), I’ve accepted all responsibilities for my behaviors and consequences for my actions. I don’t blame pot for who I became after college, I blame myself for not being adult enough to give it up.
There is too much power for government in the War on Some Drugs.
No government, especially totalitarian socialist governments, ever voluntarily relinquish a shred of power.
End the DEA and let the State's write their own "drug" laws.
This thread reminds me of my friend’s son who has been out of college nearly 2 years with huge student debt and no prospects for a real job.
Despite this he cast his vote for Gary Johnson. And he said that the fact Colorado decriminalized pot was the most significant thing to happen on Election Day.
I should state that I'm one of a very few people I know (of my generation) who haven't tried pot. When I was in college, it just never appealed to me. And now that I'm working and supporting a family, I've got more important things to think about than foolishness like that. :-)
Personally, I am *not* in favor of legalizing pot (or any other illegal drugs). I think that if something is "legal", then more people will use it - or use it more regularly - than would have normally. The populace is already over-doped, we don't need to pile on more drugs.
But to not study something that is clearly known to help.....To not prescibe (and monitor) a drug that has known benefits....to me, seems foolish.
How is Prohibition not relevant?
How is it that pretty much everyone knows a lot more people who have had their lives ruined by alcohol than by marijuana not relevant?
And speaking of “Old BS” that’s routinely trotted out, no, I’ve never tried marijuana in my life, or any other controlled substance (being Eastern European my dad would give me a little glass of beer from time to time from about the age of 8 on up.)
Though people will never admit it the real main reason people oppose marijuana legalization on FR is that they perceive it would give satisfaction to people they don’t like (”hippies”).
I think I can make a more compelling argument that the "War on Drugs" has been vastly more immoral then letting adults smoke pot.
You can have a society that says "drugs are not OK", but which does not confiscate a man's real estate because unbeknownst to him, someone lit up a joint in one of its rooms.
As a former Prosecutor, absolutely legalize it. Alcohol is legal (a big argument n favor) and we wasted way too much time on minor pot cases. The overwhelming number of people smoke it responsible like people who drink.
Keeping pot illegal is an utter waste of resources AND ... it should be up to the States not the Feds. O’dimwit should stop raiding pot dispensaries in States that have legalized it.
What makes you think we can stop it in a free country??
Well, the path to conservative success is clear. The GOP should hold to the rest of its principles, but become the party of MJ legalization.
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As a former Prosecutor, absolutely legalize it. Alcohol is legal (a big argument n favor) and we wasted way too much time on minor pot cases. The overwhelming number of people smoke it responsible like people who drink.
Keeping pot illegal is an utter waste of resources AND ... it should be up to the States not the Feds. O’dimwit should stop raiding pot dispensaries in States that have legalized it.”
Legalizing would also get the armed illegal alien Mexican drug cartel criminals who grow thousands of acres of it out of my neighborhood!
Within 5 years marijuana will be widely legalized just as gay marriage will be institutionalized and widespread. Today’s tobacco companies will be growing and processing pot which will be heavily taxed. The progressives will then be demanding legalization of heroin, meth, and consensual sexual relations between adults and children as well as adults and animals.
Fast forward 30 years. Progressive ambulance chaser lawyers will be filing class action suits against the pot/tobacco companies demanding big settlements for throat cancer caused by smoking weed or brain damage caused by dependence on pot. They’ll also be suing the Boy Scouts to allow consensual sex between troop leaders and scouts during campouts.
The envelope will keep getting pushed until we have anarchy and total destruction of the social fabric. From there civilization will have to rebuild.
1) A Police State is a bad thing. Our war on drugs is prosecuted badly. I do not like quasi-military forces kicking in doors. I do not support property seizures. These are bad attempts to enforce a law.
2) I would support legalization of drugs -- but only after Government charity is ended. If you can be responsible and support yourself AND take drugs, then it is none of my business. BUT the current situation is that a lot of feckless people get in trouble with substance abuse -- and they use MY money to survive. I will support legalization AFTER people become free to die in alleys due to their bad decisions. Until we live in such a free country, I think making drugs illegal isn't so bad.
Too many people say "The case load at the county courthouse would be easier next month if we stopped prosecuting people for drugs". That sort of short-sighted thinking is why we're in a mess. We give in and give in and give in on all of our principles (moral society being a key principle) and then we get upset that everything is in decline.
Ok, thanks, I’ll respond later, but would like to point out that some states are trying to drug test recipients of state funds. So things are moving in your direction. I just do not like the tremendous power gov derived by the war on drugs and see that as a much greater evil then hippies smoking pot.
The majority of people and interest groups who think legalized pot is a great idea are also the very same self righteous citizens who go berserk over anyone lightng up a cigarette.
That usually includes not only liberals, who always want more government, but also those who think they are conservative but side with liberals in advocating more government control when someone engages in a legal practice they do not like.
“In reality, freedom has its costs. But a police state is more costly.”
Legalizing drugs (even heroin and cocaine) isn’t going to reduce the “police state” now, or ever.
That’s here to stay, short of a revolution or “civil separation” of the states.
I’m probably the only person you’ll ever meet, who went to the original Woodstock festival in 1969, and didn’t get high OR drunk...
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