California Favors Marijuana Legalization According To New PPI Poll

A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California was released on  9/25 showing that 52{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Californians now favor marijuana legalization.

This represents a big jump from a March 2012  PPI poll that showed only 45{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} favored legalizing marijuana.

Back in 2010 California tried to pass Proposition 19 and polls showed higher support prior to the election, but this is the first time polls show a clear majority.

 A Pew Research Center Poll  earlier this year showed 52{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Americans favor legalization and 68{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} were against federal enforcement in states where marijuana is legal.

It appears California has caught up with the rest of the nation and the new poll finds very similar numbers with 52{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} for legalization and 60{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} against federal intervention.

The latest PPI poll was conducted among registered voters and those likely to vote. In the likely to vote group 60{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} favored legalizing marijuana.

The poll showed 62{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Hispanics are against legalization, which is interesting, considering the fact that this ethnic group is most likely to go to jail for marijuana possession in California.

With legalization in Colorado and Washington these poll results are likely to start the ball rolling for another California initiative to legalize marijuana.

Indeed, especially in light of the latest poll, some want to try to get an initiative on the 2014 ballot. But that will take about a half million signatures and a million dollars to accomplish.

Many in the legalization movement are advising California to wait until the 2016  presidential election when higher voter turnout will favor passing a legalization initiative.

Majority Favor Marijuana Legalization in California, Poll Finds

Drug War Chronicle–18 hours ago

Support for marijuana legalization is above 50{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} among Californians, and even higher among likely voters, according to a new Public Policy …http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2013/sep/26/majority_favor_marijuana_legaliz

(c) Medical Cannabis News – Read entire story here.