Pubdate: Fri, 05 Apr 2013
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2013 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: David Lauter, Tribune Newspapers
Page: 7A

MAJORITY NOW SUPPORT LEGALIZING POT

Most No Longer See Use As Immoral, Poll Finds

WASHINGTON - A majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, a
new poll shows, with the change driven largely by a huge shift in how
the baby boom generation feels about the drug of its youth.

Fifty-two percent of adult Americans back legalization, according to
the survey released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. The finding
marks the first time in more than four decades of Pew's polling that a
majority has taken that position. As recently as a decade ago, only
about one-third of American adults backed legalization.

Two big shifts in opinion go along with the support for legalization
and likely contribute to it. Most Americans no longer see marijuana as
a "gateway" to more dangerous drugs, and most no longer see its use as
immoral. As recently as 2006, half of Americans said in a Pew survey
that marijuana use was "morally wrong." Now, only one-third do.

By an overwhelming margin, 72 percent to 23 percent, Americans say the
federal government's efforts against marijuana "cost more than they
are worth."

Similarly, by nearly a 2-to-1 ratio, Americans say the federal
government should not enforce its anti-marijuana laws in states that
allow use of the drug. The Obama administration has been vague on what
stand it will take on federal law enforcement in states such as
Washington and Colorado, which have legalized marijuana for
recreational use, or in states such as California that allow medical
use. Federal prosecutors in California have brought charges against
some sellers of medical marijuana.

In December, Attorney General Eric Holder acknowledged a "tension
between federal law and these state laws" and said that a
clarification of federal policy would come "relatively soon." That has
not yet happened. So far, 24 states and the District of Columbia have
decriminalized personal use of marijuana, legalized it or allowed it
to be used for medical purposes. Federal law currently treats
marijuana as a dangerous drug with no legitimate medical uses.

The poll suggests that a shift in federal law may be slow. A notable
political split exists on the issue.
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