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POLL: Americans Favor Legalization of Marijuana 51-44%
CNSNews.com ^ | December 5, 2012 | Gregory Gwyn-Williams Jr.

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.”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2012polls; marijuana; potheads; trends
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1 posted on 12/05/2012 6:46:01 AM PST by CNSNews.com
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To: CNSNews.com

Oy vey. Where is the pi of the guy holding his forehead?


2 posted on 12/05/2012 6:51:41 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: CNSNews.com

All the usual jokes will follow of course.

But it can’t help but be noted that Demon Rum and Reefer Madness weren’t memes dreamed up and promoted by social conservatives, who lamented social ills tied to such things but never seriously considered a blanket ban. That had to wait for the progressives of the corresponding eras, and created an unwinnable war, or rather a war whose attempts to win were wrongly formulated. Ideas of personal responsibility for misuse of the creation went by the board as demonizing inanimate parts of the creation came into vogue.


3 posted on 12/05/2012 6:56:27 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (How long before all this "fairness" kills everybody, even the poor it was supposed to help???)
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To: CNSNews.com

Wow. About the same poll results that show preference to sodomy, collectivism, and abortion, according to the election results...


4 posted on 12/05/2012 7:00:58 AM PST by Blue Collar Christian (I hope we're ready to get a real candidate next time. C'mon GOP! <BCC><)
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To: CNSNews.com

Let’s legalize Heroin!

Why not?


5 posted on 12/05/2012 7:04:05 AM PST by Obadiah (How do you know that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a muzzle flash?)
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To: CNSNews.com
Listen, I smoked my fair share of pot in college. It ruined my post-college life. I don't care if it's legalized, but let's be honest here:

With the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes legal in about 20 states

emphasis mine

They're dishonestly pushing this agenda under the guise of medicine. They need to just come out and say, "We want pot to be legal for any and all purposes, not just medicinal."

The Lefties are even dishonest with themselves. You can't delude the foolish.

6 posted on 12/05/2012 7:05:52 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: CNSNews.com

Sure, why the hell not.

After all, we appear to be building a Welfare State where not finishing your education or even be able to get up for work on time will ever be an issue again.

And Obama will soon force us out of our cars and onto the Glorious Bullet Trains of the Collective, so no more Driving While Stoned charges to contend with.


7 posted on 12/05/2012 7:07:18 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: rarestia
Absolutely. It's the old "abortion should be safe, legal and rare" thing -- when you know they have no interest at all in the "rare" part. Any effort to curb abortion is met with some particular sob story involving rape and incest and the health of the mother, and an outraged "You don't care about that girl!"

The abortion argument is an argument for 50 million dead babies because people couldn't be bothered to be responsible.
The "medical marijuana" argument is an argument in favor of listening to Pink Floyd through headphones and having a really good time.

And most people are afraid to say so.

8 posted on 12/05/2012 7:10:47 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (Republicans have made themselves useless, toothless, and clueless.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

There was a popular study published in the 90s that showed the effects of abandoning the US “War on Drugs.” It was skewed, but some of the budgetary numbers were staggering. If they legalized all schedule drugs, completely legal for purchase at a gas station, for instance, you’d likely have massive die off from overdoses initially, but the money saved year-to-year could be used to universally fund drug rehab programs across the country for those who become addicted.

I’m not exactly for that, there need to be constraints, but the numbers were pretty eye-opening.


9 posted on 12/05/2012 7:14:01 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia
Well, on just about any topic, there are moral arguments to be made, and there are economic arguments to be made -- and those arguments do not always align with each other.

I can see how legalizing drugs might have a benefit economic effect.
But, for me, the moral argument trumps the economic argument. I speak from some experience when I say that drugs have messed up a lot of individuals and a lot of families. I do not want our society to say "That stuff is OK" -- because it isn't OK.

10 posted on 12/05/2012 7:28:27 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (Republicans have made themselves useless, toothless, and clueless.)
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To: Obadiah

Let’s legalize Heroin!

Why not?


Who’s deterred by the fact that it’s illegal?

In reality, freedom has its costs. But a police state is more costly.


11 posted on 12/05/2012 7:29:44 AM PST by Atlas Sneezed (Hold My Beer and Watch This!)
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To: ClearCase_guy

As previously stated, marijuana and alcohol completely decimated my life, professionally and personally, so I’m completely understanding of the moral argument. At this point the economic benefit would be a drop in the bucket overall, and the drug-addled masses would be easier to cow into voting booths or gulags.


12 posted on 12/05/2012 7:32:21 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: rarestia

So are you in favor of re-imposing Prohibition on alcohol?


13 posted on 12/05/2012 7:34:43 AM PST by Strategerist
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To: rarestia
They're dishonestly pushing this agenda under the guise of medicine

You're absolutely right. I still think that medicinal pot makes sense, though.

Many moons ago, my uncle was undergoing chemo. A friendly doc "talked hypothetically" about using pot to counter some of the side effects. Keep in mind that this would have been back in the 70s or early 80s. Pot was strictly verboten.

Uncle said that it didn't help with the nausea, but it did let him get some sleep, and that was 50% of the battle.

My uncle, however, was far from being a pot-head. Used it like you would any other medicine....just to treat a problem, or alleviate some symptoms, and he stopped taking it when it was no longer needed.

I think that there's plenty more that could be done with - for instance, opiates for pain relief - as far as medicine in this country, if it weren't for the fools who abuse drugs, the lawyers who are looking to stick up drug companies, and the government bureaucrats who are looking to "help". God save us rational people from all of the fools.

14 posted on 12/05/2012 7:35:58 AM PST by wbill
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To: Strategerist

Not at all. As stated, I’m all for the legalization of pot. 21 year old legal purchasing age, tax it to Hell and back. It would still be cheaper, both monetarily and judiciously, than buying illegally.

Just because pot and alcohol destroyed my life doesn’t mean it destroys everyones’ life.


15 posted on 12/05/2012 7:37:06 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Blue Collar Christian

Exactly what I was going to say.

Not only do they want legal marijuana, they probably want whats left of America’s workforce to buy it for them. Free dope for everybody.


16 posted on 12/05/2012 7:38:17 AM PST by Venturer
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To: rarestia
Your post is spot on (minus you blaming the plant in your post-college life).

I support legalizing marijuana. You want to smoke the plant? go right ahead, it is up to the user to be responsible or face the consequences (and no, we don't need any more laws, we have plenty to cover damn near every little facet of life already).
I can not stand this "medical marijuana" jive. It insults my intelligence and is nothing more than a ruse.

17 posted on 12/05/2012 7:38:41 AM PST by Michael Barnes (Obamaa+ Downgrade)
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To: CNSNews.com

Rome is burning!


18 posted on 12/05/2012 7:40:19 AM PST by showme_the_Glory (ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government)
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To: wbill

My grand-aunt was dying from stage 3 breast cancer back in the 90s. She looked hale and hearty for several months until she was admitted to Hospice care in her final month. On her deathbed she admitted to all of the family that pot was her secret weapon against the chemo and when she couldn’t smoke it anymore in Hospice, the decline was quick.

If nothing else, I want it to be legal to study. By virtue of being schedule I, even universities can’t study it, and I think that’s a damn shame.


19 posted on 12/05/2012 7:40:59 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Strategerist

I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to bring up that old BS.

I knew you were there.


20 posted on 12/05/2012 7:41:06 AM PST by Venturer
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