Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 Source: Orange County Register, The (CA) Copyright: 2016 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321 HAS YOUR THINKING ON POT CHANGED? Momentum seems to be building toward California joining the short list of states in which the recreational use of marijuana is legal. More residents and powerful groups are voicing support for a planned ballot measure to legalize the possession, cultivation and sale of marijuana by people 21 and up, and allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana commerce. Are you more in favor of it than you used to be? Are you more against it? Have your feelings one way or the other gotten more intense? A poll by the Public Policy Institute of California in May found 60 percent of likely voters answering "yes" when asked if they generally think the use of marijuana should be legal. Support has risen 5 percentage points since PPIC asked the same question in March 2015, and 11 percentage points since May 2010. Over the weekend, in Long Beach, the California Democratic Party's executive board voted to support the pot-legalization measure that has qualified for the Nov. 8 ballot. Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of California also endorsed legalization, calling for voters to "end this chapter of the failed war on drugs." More California cities are weighing ordinance changes in anticipation of legalization. Are you happy about these trends? Email your thoughts to Please include your full name and city or community of residence. If you prefer, share your views in the comments section that accompanies this article online. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom