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

MARIJUANA BALLOT INITIATIVES MAY MOTIVATE VOTERS

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
say they would be "much more likely" to vote if marijuana legalization
issues were on the ballot. An additional 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.

"What's really interesting and, I think, a totally unwritten story is
that 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
historically turn out in midterm elections in higher frequency than
young adults.

So far this year, only two states have approved marijuana ballot
initiatives. In Alaska, voters will decide whether to follow Colorado
and Washington and regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol, which in
effect would legalize recreational usage. The measure appears on the
Aug. 19 primary ballot because the state does not allow initiatives on
the general election ballot. 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 this year.

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 and get a vote on a legalization measure
similar to Colorado's on the ballot this fall.

More than a dozen other state legislatures are mulling marijuana
laws.

The Marijuana Policy Project plans to support a number of 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: Matt