Study Says A Clear Majority Now Favors Legalizing Marijuana
The Pew Research Center says that for the first time in 40 years, a poll conducted last month shows the majority of Americans favor marijuana legalization. The number jumped 11 points since 2010 to 52 percent. And 77 percent recognize the validity of medical marijuana.
Study Says A Clear Majority Now Favors Legalizing Marijuana
Jan Hefler
A Pew Research Center report says that, for the first time in 40 years, a poll conducted last month reveals the majority of Americans favor marijuana legalization. The number jumped 11 points since 2010, to 52 percent, with 45 percent against it.
And, 77 percent of those polled recognize the validity of medical marijuana. The majority was smaller in 1997, when an ABC News survey reported 58 percent believed marijuana has legitimate medical uses.
Pew released its report today, noting its researchers polled 1,501 adults between March 13-17. Public opinion has changed dramatically since 1969, when a Gallup study found only 12 percent were in favor.
The Pew study reflects not only attitude changes but new laws that decriminalize the drug and that allow it to be used for medical reasons. New Jersey is one of 18 states that now have medical marijuana despite a federal ban on the substance.
And the respondents had something to say about that federal ban too. Seventy-two percent said "government efforts to enforce marijuana laws cost more than they are worth. And 60 percent say that the federal government should not enforce federal laws prohibiting the use of marijuana in states where it is legal," the report says.
Currently, only Colorado and Washington legalize the drug outright.
The study also found interesting differences in opinion between the generations, which some believe means that one day marijuana will become legal in many more places. Sixty-five percent of Millennials - those who are 18-32 - favor legalization, up from 36 percent in 2008. And half of the Baby Boomers are now on board, up from 17 percent in 1990.
Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1980, are in favor, by 54 percent, up from 28 percent in 1994.
Warren Buffet has been quoted as saying a long time ago, " a public opinion poll is no substitute for thought."— mlogan49- For every prisoner the banking industry makes $5 per month in interest payments, fees, and expenses incurred from the Govt.
That means the banking industry makes over $138,000,000.00 per year off of the current Criminal Justice/Prison system.
More prisoners = more loans from bankers to Govt for prisons, maintenance, upkeep, medical, meals, utilities, legal, etc...
Thank about it.— Professor1982 -3.jpg)
As long as corporations use prisoners for slave labor the authorities will continue to do their bidding and arrest otherwise law-abiding and peaceful citizens. It's a big game. Sad.— MS. LOU.- Ms. Lou is 100% correct. — Professor1982
- that means 50 years from now the politicians might move to change the law.— high water
- "otherwise law-abiding and peaceful citizens" LMAO Plenty of us have earned that moniker without the "otherwise". Here's a helpful tip on how you too can achieve that. DON'T BREAK THE LAW. Rocket science, I know.— Jim Wintersteen
- There used to be a law against people of color voting and sharing seats, restaurants, hotels etc. with white folks. Used to be a law interracial dating/marriage and drinking beer or alcohol. Used to be a law against homosexuality. Used to be a law against being anything but Christian. In fact, I believe there is a law that anyone other than a Christian cannot run for President, although that law may be "unwritten". Rocket science, I know. Research it. — MS. LOU.
- Besides that those were legitimate social issues, and this is about smoking a plant, you still screwed up your Presidents religious bit-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_affiliations_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States
Research it.— verve - Jim - Ms. Lou is right here. The laws against "MJ" were promoted and drawn up by Laguardia in the early 1900s as a knee jerk reaction to Mexicans who were high at the time, assaulting a person in the then SW territory.
Since then its been proven that MJ is not harmful and is not a "gateway drug".
Part of the reason the prison pop is so large is b/c people can't make money and MJ represents a way to feed their families.
Just like Prohibition was a mistake (and more gun laws are a mistake) keeping MJ illegal is just moronic.
The only people that benefit is the Criminal Justice and Prison system and the bankers that finance them.— Professor1982 - The Eurozone has 12% unemployment and is broke and there are riots in the streets. Keep that in mind as you plan your European utopia.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Yes, but we are still stuck with you. I'll take the riots and unemployment. — AreaMan
- @ AreaMan - Spoken like a true traitor. — Professor1982
- Pathetic1982, so a traitor is somebody is riots in the streets for change? But a true patriot is some pathetic loser who posts 200 times a day on Philly.com? And all of his posts are filled with crying, whining, name-calling, nonsensical hate-filled rants and lies? And he is so pathetic and insecure that he has to always respond to the first post because he needs people to see his rants? Sounds like you are a professional victim.
I look forward to you reporting my post as abuse, as you often do.— AreaMan - Financial pressure on the states will make legalization inevitable. In fact it would be criminal not to do so.— The One Who Knows
- We live in a free land, so this should be free to do so assuming you use it responsibly. The problem will be there is always a percent that will use it irresponsibly, which can cause harm to themselves and others. What to do, what to do....— dfresh
