Pubdate: Fri, 12 Aug 2011
Source: AlterNet (US Web)
Copyright: 2011 Independent Media Institute
Website: http://www.alternet.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1451
Author: Kristen Gwynne

NEW POLL: MOST AMERICANS CONSIDER WAR ON DRUGS A FAILURE AND SUPPORT LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

A recent Angus Reid Public Opinion poll found that, of a sample of
1,0003 American adults, 55 percent of respondents support the
legalization of marijuana, though the majority do not support the
legalization of other drugs, like cocaine or heroin.

However, in a move towards removing the stigma of drug users and
addicts, 64 percent of respondents believe our country has a serious
drug problem that affects the United States, and only 20 percent
consider drugs a problem that effect only certain people or areas.
Suggestive of a widespread belief in an un-treated problem, only 5
percent of respondents said America does not have a drug problem, and
67 percent of respondents call the war on drugs a failure. On an
ironically positive note, only 9 percent of respondents consider the
war on drugs a success. Is this a step in the right direction?
According to Angus Reid,

"The survey shows a country that is concerned about the effects of
drugs, and at the same time deeply disappointed with the efforts of
the U.S. government to deal with the drug trade."

Forty years after the failed war on drugs kicked off and cost our
country a wasted $50 billion, could harm reduction and a sensible drug
policy finally be in our country's future? 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.