Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jan 2014
Source: Forbes Magazine (US)
Copyright: 2014 Forbes Inc.
Contact:  http://www.forbes.com/forbes/current/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/769
Author: Jacob Sullum, Contributor

MORE EVIDENCE THAT MOST AMERICANS OPPOSE MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 55 percent of
Americans support marijuana legalization, which is similar to the
results of a CNN poll conducted a few weeks ago and a Gallup poll
conducted last fall. The wording of the latest survey was unusual,
asking respondents how they would react "if a law passed in your state
that allowed adults to purchase small quantities of marijuana for
their own personal use from regulated, state-licensed businesses."
Only 19 percent said they would "actively work to overturn it," while
another 24 percent said they would oppose the law without seeking to
change it. On the pro side, 24 percent of respondents said they would
"actively support" the law, while another 31 percent said they would
favor it without actively supporting it.

By comparison, 54 percent of respondents in the CNN poll said "the
sale of marijuana should be made legal," 58 percent of respondents in
the Gallup poll said "the use of marijuana should be made legal," and
53 percent of respondents in a Reason-Rupe survey conducted last
January said "the government should treat marijuana the same as
alcohol." Two other recent polls found less support for legalization:
51 percent for legalizing "the use of marijuana" in a CBS CBS +0.89%
News survey completed last week and 49 percent for "legalizing the
possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use" in
aWashington Post/ABC News poll earlier this month. Still, all but one
of the polls so far this year has found majority support for
legalization, suggesting that Americans really have crossed that
threshold or will soon. How soon Kevin Sabet will admit it is another
question.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D