Majority of Americans Oppose Legalizing Marijuana

slimvictor

slimvictor

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http://gothamist.com/2010/04/20/majority_of_americans_oppose_legali.php

Just after midnight on 4/20—a day celebrated by stoners around the world for reasons they've mostly forgotten—the Associated Press harshed the holiday's vibe by releasing the results of a nationwide survey about legalizing marijuana. The conclusion: we still live in a nation of uptight, reactionary Archie Bunker types who think it makes sense to throw away billions of taxpayer dollars for the sake of criminalizing a plant. Survey says:

55 percent of Americans oppose the legalization of marijuana.

Predictably, people under 30 were the only age group favoring legalization (54 percent) and opposition increased with age, topping out at 73 percent of those 65 and older.

Opposition was highest among women, Republicans and those in rural and suburban areas.

Sixty percent support the idea of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, and 74 percent believe the drug has a real medical benefit for some people.

45 percent said the cost of enforcing existing laws is too high and 48 percent said "it's about right." Democrats, men and young people were most apt to say the cost is "exorbitant."

John Lovell, a spokesman with the California Narcotics Officers' Association, says the poll shows how worried Americans are about widespread abuse of legal prescription drugs and alcohol: "Given that reality, we don't need to add another mind-altering substance that compromises people's five senses." Because criminalizing pot has worked so well in making it unobtainable!

Here in New York, the State Senate is considering following New Jersey and legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. And in California, voters will decide whether to legalize weed at a referendum in November. All this has Americans like Ann Broadus, 58, of Petros, Tenn., worried sick: "Probably somewhere down the road it will be legalized, but I hope not. I think if it becomes legal, these druggies would be worse off." Thanks for your concern, Ann!
 
"Given that reality, we don't need to add another mind-altering substance that compromises people's five senses." Because criminalizing pot has worked so well in making it unobtainable!

Maybe it's unattainable for him because he probably looks like a narc, but I regularly get offered weed. I don't smoke, I don't look like I would, and yet every time I walk to taco bell someone asks if I need a dime. But I mean seriously, I can't think of a single place where pot is all that hard to get, maybe Utah... IDK.

All this has Americans like Ann Broadus, 58, of Petros, Tenn., worried sick: "Probably somewhere down the road it will be legalized, but I hope not. I think if it becomes legal, these druggies would be worse off."

Oh yes because us druggies are so much better off going to jail, being subsequently barred from public services, and being discriminated against in job opportunities... I hope the Ann Broadus' of this country go extinct, but I wouldn't bet on it.
 
Hopefully the rest of the country won't be able to fuck up what we are trying to do in California come this November.
 
A recent CBS news poll (500 person sample) found that 56% of Californians were for legalization.
 
Meh, what that article fails to point out is that the study also said that:

*44 percent wanted alcohol and marijuana to be handled equally.
*12 percent wanted less strict rules for pot over alcohol.

Here's the full 22-page study:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/AP-Pot-Poll.pdf&pli=1

It's sad that the AP's news article just completely failed to mention the above stats that I mentioned. So yes, while it says that 55% of americans do not support legalization, 56% of them say that marijuana should be treated at least the same as alcohol. I wander about the intelligence levels of the people surveyed, if a person can answer "Yes, I oppose the legalization of marijuana" to one question, and on the very same survey, also say "Yes, I think marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol". Puzzling.
 
chilidog said:
Meh, what that article fails to point out is that the study also said that:

*44 percent wanted alcohol and marijuana to be handled equally.
*12 percent wanted less strict rules for pot over alcohol.

Here's the full 22-page study:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/AP-Pot-Poll.pdf&pli=1

It's sad that the AP's news article just completely failed to mention the above stats that I mentioned. So yes, while it says that 55% of americans do not support legalization, 56% of them say that marijuana should be treated at least the same as alcohol. I wander about the intelligence levels of the people surveyed, if a person can answer "Yes, I oppose the legalization of marijuana" to one question, and on the very same survey, also say "Yes, I think marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol". Puzzling.
Click to expand...

Distorted media hypnotizes readers into believing projected agendas.

It's the oldest trick in the book.
 
Predictably, people under 30 were the only age group favoring legalization (54 percent) and opposition increased with age, topping out at 73 percent of those 65 and older.
Click to expand...
once all the old people die the generation that was younger i think still will be in favor of legalization and it will happen then. just a matter of time
 
JoeTheStoner said:
once all the old people die the generation that was younger i think still will be in favor of legalization and it will happen then. just a matter of time
Click to expand...

EXACTLY! i was just about to post this after reading the article, you beat me to it. hey maybe in 20 generations the country will finally see how fucked up this drug war actually is :\
 
So it appears that half the people are either brainwashed idiots or collectivists.

They have a mentality where individuals are simply worker bees in the collective hive whose only purpose is to serve the "interests" of society. Corporate directed governments regards the people as cattle to be controlled and exploited.

Democracy is only a step away from tyranny, where two wolves and a sheep vote on what to have for dinner.
 
The poll that needs to be taken has never been taken. It would go something like this:

A) How much money are you willing to pay per year so that your government can prosecute marijuana use?

  • More than $1000
  • $500-$1000
  • $100-$500
  • $50-$100
  • $10-$50

B) Enter your bank account number: _____________________________
Click to expand...
 
If instead our government spent millions on teaching people they can be helpful instead of all doom along with some harm reduction... Maybe more people would be pro- marijuana choice.....Instead we live in country that spends millions on restricting drug use...Shit we even declared WAR on this damn plant with many uses.... Only thing this does is create a black market which causes trouble..

Instead we have to try things for ourselves, surfing boards like this to do some harm reduction research... To make our own opinion and be safe
 
America has the potential to be the greatest country in the world again. i love this country but i am completely ashamed of the people in it. if herb was legalized, all of our debts would be settled, economy would skyrocket, prisons would have enough room for all of the people who truly deserve to get locked the fuck up
 
I agree PA. America is the greatet country in the world- we just have to reclaim it from the self-serving politicians and elect people who have upholding principles on their agenda not serving private interest. So people would start to learn how to tolerate other's behavior even if they don't necessarily agree with it.
 
The United States may be subjectively the best country in the world for you, but objectively I don't think it meets most people's criteria, including that of those who live here. My criteria would be standard of living, average intelligence of citizens, governments attitude towards minorities and less fortunate, culture, and whether the government has been guilty of international crimes in the recent past. Errr we don't jump to the head of the pack in any of those. Pretty much the only thing we have going for us is that we donate to charity more than any other country, which is admirable even if it is related to the proportion of religious nuts who live here.
 
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