Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2014
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2014 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
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Author: Susan Davis
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives)

VOTER APATHY UP IN SMOKE WITH POT INITIATIVES

Poll: Marijuana-Laced Ballots Boost Interest

WASHINGTON - Warning: Increased voter turnout could be a political 
side effect of marijuana.

The latest George Washington University Battleground poll, a national 
survey of likely voters, reveals that nearly four in 10 respondents 
would be "much more likely" to vote if marijuana legalization issues 
were on the ballot. Another 30% say such ballot initiatives would 
make them "somewhat" more likely to vote.

The numbers are encouraging to Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, who 
conducted the survey with GOP pollster Ed Goeas, because Democrats 
historically have a tougher time than Republicans in turning out 
voters in non-presidential election years.

The GWU survey underscored the enthusiasm gap going into 2014 
elections: 64% of Republicans say they are extremely likely to vote 
this year, compared with 57% of Democrats. Among young voters, who 
are a pillar of the Democratic base, 36% said they are extremely 
likely to vote.

"Which is why you can imagine we're very excited about our marijuana 
numbers in this poll, not only for personal consumption to get 
through this election, but in terms of turnout," Lake quipped.

Support for legalizing medical marijuana use has grown steadily with 
73% in favor, while a majority, 53%, also back decriminalizing 
marijuana possession, according to the survey.

"Everyone talks about marriage equality hitting a tipping point (of 
acceptance). Marijuana is hitting the tipping point. It's really 
astounding about how fast it's moved," Lake said.

The issue is also motivating beyond traditional political lines. For 
example, in the successful push for a 2012 Colorado ballot initiative 
to legalize recreational marijuana use, supporters mobilized 
libertarian-leaning Republicans by running ads on country-music radio 
stations that reached the state's rural areas.

Lake says the data show that the most ardent opponents to legalizing 
medicinal marijuana use are seniors, while suburban moms are 
reluctant to support the decriminalization of possession. Both groups 
are more likely to vote in midterm elections than young adults.

So far this year, only two states have approved marijuana ballot 
initiatives. In Alaska, voters will decide on Aug. 19 whether to 
regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol, which in effect would 
legalize recreational usage. That ballot will also settle a hotly 
contested GOP primary for the U.S. Senate.

Florida voters in November will decide whether to allow for medicinal 
marijuana use, which would require a supermajority of voters, 60%, to 
enact. November's Florida gubernatorial election is likely to be 
among the most competitive races in the nation.

In Oregon, the state Legislature declined to put the issue on the 
November ballot, but activists are considering a petition effort to 
circumvent that decision.

More than a dozen other state legislatures are mulling marijuana 
laws. The Marijuana Policy Project plans to back ballot initiatives 
to regulate marijuana like alcohol in Arizona, California, 
Massachusetts, Maine, Montana and Nevada, but those initiatives won't 
be ready until 2016.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom