Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2004
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento Bee
Contact:  http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Alexa H. Bluth, Bee Capitol Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

BACKING FOR LAW ON MEDICAL POT CLIMBS IN POLL

Californians' views about the use of medical marijuana have relaxed 
dramatically since voters agreed to legalize the drug for ill patients in 
this state eight years ago, a new statewide survey found.

Now three in four voters, cutting across political, religious and 
generational spectrums, believe that 1996's largely stalled medical 
marijuana proposition should be enforced, according to a Field Poll 
released today.

That is a far greater percentage than cast ballots in favor of Proposition 
215, which is supposed to exempt from criminal charges patients or 
caregivers with a doctor's prescription to possess or cultivate marijuana. 
The law passed with 56 percent approval.

The law has largely stalled because federal authorities refuse to recognize 
it in California and continue to enforce federal marijuana laws even in 
medical cases.

"A majority of (voters) are supportive of implementation of the law," said 
survey director Mark DiCamillo. "There is no subgroup -- be it 
conservative, be it regular churchgoer, be it Republican -- that is opposed."

Indeed, six in 10 Republicans surveyed and more than half of those who said 
they considered themselves conservative favor the law's implementation.

"The will of the people comes first and foremost, period," said survey 
respondent Gerrold Webber, a 56-year-old Sacramento letter carrier, who is 
a Republican. "If the people vote for it, it should be implemented."

The latest poll also found some pronounced changes in Californians' 
attitude about the drug, although voters by a 5-3 ratio oppose legalizing 
marijuana to sell in a similar fashion as alcohol or tobacco, which would 
generate tax revenues for the state.

Half of the voting public said they believe marijuana is no more dangerous 
than alcohol, compared to just 16 percent who felt that way in a 1969 Field 
Poll.

"It isn't something where the public is fearing the consequences of 
widespread abuse," said DiCamillo.

However, DiCamillo said, attitudes about the dangers of marijuana are 
related to whether voters said they had ever smoked it. Of those who said 
they have -- about half of those surveyed -- almost two-thirds said the 
drug is no more dangerous than alcohol. A little more than a third of those 
who said they had never used the drug agreed.

Webber said he has never smoked it, but said he "always felt that marijuana 
was probably the lesser of evils out there."

"There might be a little more risk with marijuana than alcohol but compared 
to the benefits of aiding sick people, I think it's a tradeoff," Webber 
said. "If (the terminally ill) can get some kind of benefit from it then I 
think, yeah, it should be allowed."

Hazen Simkins, 87, a retired Sacramento resident who considers his 
political views "middle-of-the-road," said he disapproves of marijuana use 
unless it occurs "under normal medical channels under prescription 
directions." He said he supports its use particularly among the terminally ill.

"I suppose it's no different than any other sedative or drug that they use 
in medicine," he said.

The Field Poll also found that the belief that marijuana leads a person to 
use more dangerous drugs has dipped over time. In 1969, eight in 10 
Californians felt that the drug led to more dangerous habits, compared to 
about half today.

The findings are based on a telephone survey of 500 registered voters 
conducted from Jan. 5 to 13. The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 
percentage points.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom