The Washington Post reports on growing support for marijuana legalization.
The shift is widely described as generational. A Gallup poll in October found 44 percent of Americans favor full legalization of marijuana — a rise of 13 points since 2000. Gallup said that if public support continues growing at a rate of 1 to 2 percent per year, “the majority of Americans could favor legalization of the drug in as little as four years.“A 53 percent majority already does so in the West, according to the survey. The finding heartens advocates collecting signatures to put the question of legalization before California voters in a 2010 initiative.
Ryan Waxx says:
As long as it’s real legalization, instead of having doctors set up shops to “prescribe” it, good.
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November 23, 2009, 9:47 pmOrder of the Coif says:
It’s about time.
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November 23, 2009, 9:59 pmspudbeach says:
I support Mr. Waxx. One of the problems with “medical marijuana” or decriminalization is that only part of the product cycle is legalized — everything but the production and distribution. That then causes higher usage, which means more money going to the unsavory characters willing to take the risk of going to jail for producing a substance that is mostly legal.
Full legalization may come (after Raich v. Gonzalez is overturned [a while] or after a filibuster proof majority in the Senate [a long while]), but until then, the 5–10% of the population that is sitting on the fence may agree to “decriminalization” but not “legalization”. For example, see the situation in Massachusetts (nothing but a ticket for possession, full federal slammer for production / distribution).
The main public ill of marijuana use is the money it provides the underworld. Decriminalization just increases this ill. Let’s continue to legalization.
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November 23, 2009, 10:04 pmCornellian says:
It will be nice to see something on the ballot that isn’t about banning something or borrowing or spending money.
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November 23, 2009, 10:08 pmRyan Waxx says:
Just wait until someone introduces a clause that links the tax levels to those of cigarettes...
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November 23, 2009, 10:29 pmArthurKirkland says:
This probably offers a small advantage to Democrats — they likely will be the proponents of progress, leaving Republicans looking like
beer pong skepticsold fuddy-duds.The big winners would be American citizens and liberty. And producers of Doritos, caramel-fudge brownies and candy bars.
Legalization of marijuana would be a long overdue development, in my judgment.
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November 23, 2009, 10:41 pmJP says:
In California, Tom Ammiano is one of the main proponents and he is also one of the main proponents of things like outdoor smoking bans, tobacco retailing bans, tobacco and tobacco related paraphernalia special business licensing restrictions and local tobacco “fees” on top of state taxes — so the legalization of marijuana is on a see-saw with the criminalization of tobacco, which in most of Northern California is already defacto — illegal.
The hope is to tax marijuana the way tobacco is currently taxed — very highly.
This is a push by Northern California marijuana growers to increase their market size by having it become legal.
Already, in Santa Cruz, California, USA, marijuana is the highest yielding crop and also the county in which most tobacco smoking has been banned outdoors and in some cases, tobacco “possession” is now illegal and subject to arrest and confiscation.
Expect when marijuana becomes legal tobacco will become illegal — as that seems to be what is being planned.
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November 23, 2009, 11:41 pmChrisTS says:
Arthur:
What is it with you and beer pong? :-)
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November 24, 2009, 12:04 amEvilDave says:
I agree.
As someone who smokes neither but thinks that the pot ban is an indefensible position that undermines our position on other drugs, we can’t legalize this soon enough.
Turn it over to RJR and the FDA.
Oh and I’d like a preemptive ban on suing over pot risks so we can avoid that silliness of suing over tobacco (yes, you got cancer and everyone knew it was a possibility).
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November 24, 2009, 12:23 amptt says:
As long as there is some provision to prevent dopers from marrying each other, I’m in...
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November 24, 2009, 12:40 amGuest12345 says:
Do you think they have any idea of the different effects of tobacco and marijuana? I mean tobacco is a stimulant and marijuana... isn’t. Just how much do they think they’re going to collect in taxes?
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November 24, 2009, 2:22 amOff Kilter says:
Well, if the majority favor it, like they favor a balanced budget and lower taxes, I’m sure the federal government will follow the will of the electorate any century now...
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November 24, 2009, 7:46 amOren says:
Fine by me.
The real question — is this a shift in attitudes or cohort replacement.
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November 24, 2009, 7:52 amOren says:
Presumably no pot-companies are going to go come out and claim that smoking pot does not elevate the risk of cancer.
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November 24, 2009, 7:54 amBT says:
Count me in as well, long over due.
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November 24, 2009, 8:59 amrjh says:
Some states already have excise tax on marijuana. In some of these it is of dubious constitutionality and serves primarily as a means of increasing sentences. Drug dealers get an additional sentence for failure to pay the tax. In others, it is an idle excise tax similar to alcohol and cigarette excise taxes. If marijuana were to be legalized, these states would get the immediate increase in tax revenues.
The US excise tax on marijuana (1937) was ruled unconstitutional in 1969(?) because it was written and enforced primarily as a means of forcing self-incrimination. But, a federal excise tax could easily be written with the intent of gathering revenue.
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November 24, 2009, 11:18 amDotar Sojat says:
Heck, let the stoners have at it. Legalize rec drugs, too. As long as: (i) rehab programs funded entirely out of taxes on MJ and rec drugs — not out of general funds; (ii) FDA control of quality of MJ and rec drugs; (iii) sold at authorized outlets only; (iv) no ADA protections or accomodations for being f****d up; (v) no producer liability or trial lawyer shakedowns for the effects of MJ and rec drugs; (vi) no unemployment benefits if you’re fired for being f****d up. All in keeping with the “victimless crime” meme. You get wrecked on your own dime, and my wallet isn’t the victim of your actions.
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November 24, 2009, 11:28 amArthurKirkland says:
Elsewhere, while discussing alcohol beverages (and drinking games in particular), I mentioned that beer pong distills to licking a ping pong ball that has been rolling along a filthy floor, and consequently should be avoided (at least, as commonly played). Someone responded: “You are old.”
The “you are old” comment seemed apt in the context of how Republicans are likely to be viewed as marijuana decriminalization unfolds.
That’s it.
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November 24, 2009, 8:22 pmJoe Riley says:
They need to just legalize it. No more complaining about medical patients “cheating the systeM” and getting high easily under a doctor. No MORE CHEATING!!! Just legal! But make it a capitalized industry, with regulations, sales permits, taxes, grower licenses, etc!
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November 25, 2009, 1:21 amRFWoodstock says:
Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit…Need I say more?
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November 25, 2009, 2:59 pmJaimeInTexas says:
Why was an amendment necessary for prohibiting alcohol but not for prohibiting marijuana?
It ain’t the business of the Feds.
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December 2, 2009, 11:05 pm