Pubdate: Fri, 16 Nov 2012
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2012 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Author: Scott Rasmussen
Note: Scott Rasmussen is the founder and CEO of Rasmussen Reports.

WILL FOR DRUG WAR WEAKENS

More than 40 years ago, the federal government launched a war on 
drugs. Over the past decade, the nation has spent hundreds of 
billions of dollars fighting that war, a figure that does not even 
include the high costs of prosecuting and jailing drug law offenders. 
It's hard to put a price on that aspect of the drug war since half of 
all inmates in federal prison today were busted for drugs.

Despite the enormous expense and growth of the prison population, 
only 7 percent of American adults now think the United States is 
winning the War on Drugs. Some 82 percent disagree. The latest 
statistics on drug usage support that conclusion.

Earlier this month, voters in Colorado and Washington sent the 
clearest signal yet that the nation is looking for a new approach to 
deal with the issue of drug abuse. They voted to legalize the use of 
marijuana in their states. Those decisions fly in the face of federal 
law and set the states on a collision course with the federal government.

But six out of 10 Americans believe the federal government should get 
out of the way and let individual states decide how they want to 
address the issue within their own borders. Only 27 percent think the 
federal government should establish national rules.

Underlying the public desire for a new approach is pragmatism. 
Nationally, 51 percent of Americans believe that alcohol is more 
dangerous than marijuana. Only 24 percent see pot as the more dangerous drug.

The data confirms the innate sense of pragmatism driving public 
opinion. When we ask Americans simply whether they favor legalization 
of marijuana, 45 percent say yes and 45 percent say no.

But when we ask about legalizing and regulating marijuana in a 
similar manner to the way alcohol and cigarettes are regulated, 
support for legalization increases to 56 percent. Only 36 percent 
remain opposed.

Most support regulations that would make it illegal for those under 
18 to purchase pot, ensure that those who drive under the influence 
would receive strict penalties and favor a ban on smoking marijuana 
in public places.

Fifty-eight percent support a requirement that marijuana could be 
purchased only in pharmacies.

However, the most persuasive case for pragmatism in exploring new 
strategies for the War on Drugs can be found when the topic shifts 
from marijuana to cocaine. First, only 11 percent support the 
legalization of cocaine. They recognize a big difference between pot 
and cocaine. If nothing else, people will want to see how the 
legalization of marijuana will work out before going any further.

They'd like to see the states experiment with a variety of approaches 
and monitor the results before deciding upon the next step. That's 
pragmatism. And that's the way people will evaluate the new approach 
to the War on Drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom