Latest poll shows majority public support for marijuana legalization in California.
In a dramatic shift in public opinion, the latest poll on California's Proposition 19, which would legalize personal growth and possession of Marijuana, shows the initiative taking a slim lead with 50% of likely voters in support, 40% in opposition and 11% undecided.…
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26 - jim
really starting to look like legalizing in cali in nov will create de facto legalization nationwide.
many cops are gonna spin in rage and their redneck brethren are gonna turn purple in fear.
and let the freak flag fly.
yassuh
27 - ChristopherKelly
Has anyone mentioned that alcohol is more toxic and addicting than marijuana? need i say more? I don't see the issue here, it should be legal and taxed as is alcohol.
I have a family which is mostly in law enforcement and they acknowledge the benefits and are for of the taxation of Cannabis.
It's not a War on Drugs, It's a war on personal freedom.
My friend of mine, a policeman, says "Your right to swing your fists ends at the tip of my nose". People should have the right to do what they want with their body and not be incarcerated for it. But if they violate another persons' rights they should pay the consequences.
Vote YES on Proposition 19
28 - Adam White
Why stop with just legalizing weed? Why not legalize everything? Imagine how much safer our streets would be if it were no longer profitable for gangs to deal in drugs, and if drug addicts could get a cheap fix without out having to commit property crimes to pay for it! Our street criminals would have return to their traditional sources of revenue, prostitution and gambling; wait, maybe those should be legal too!
29 - DeanG
"Hmmm....I expect the cartels would migrate "upstream" to other narcotics, since they still have their infrastructure in place. It would probably kick off the biggest drug war in history."
People generally desire cannabis to restore balance to our natrual endo-cannabinoid system. It is grossly inadequate to believe in the simple coincidence that our brain has cannabinoid receptors... reality is these receptors regulate almost everything in our bodies. Religious people should believe in god more strongly because cannabis exists on Earth... it is the clearest natural proof that the world is not a bad place. But a funny phschology ensues when most Western religious people try pot... they find massive relief from anxiety or other ailments... but in back of their head feel guilty. Then with guilt can come compulsive behavior and possible over-use. Not necessary! Feel glad cannabis exists, use it in moderation to get desired effects, and be a balanced productive person. Enjoy chemical balance through addition to the body of plant-derived exo-cannbinoids!
Mental illness and stress will decline drastically with cheap and legal access to cannabis. Forward thinking, optimism, return of common sense, and peace will result. Pot is NOT merely a tranquilizer or appetite increaser. Everyone needs to research this for themselves!
Summary of my long winded post in response to "Deano": with mental health helped along by legal cannabis... people won't want 'hard' drugs... I just don't believe cartels will have any extra advantage and upscale to the harder drugs more than already. 99% of people already know and believe in their heart of hearts heroin and meth are super deadly 1-way streets to really ruin your life. I don't see how cartles will be able to further saturate use of the hard drugs.
30 - DeanG
@Adam White:
"Why stop with just legalizing weed? Why not legalize everything?...and if drug addicts could get a cheap fix without out having to commit property crimes to pay for it!"
You seem to think pot is similar to huffing paint fumes or overdriving opiod receptors like heroin does. Cannabis is NOT a cheap high or escape. It is chance to rebalance a natural internal system in the body.
Many many many rational and sane people have suspected this for a long time. Valid and science-based research has only recently (last 15-30 years) unlocked many of the mysteries of cannabinoids and how they interact with the natural endo-cannabinoid systems.
Adam White - I interpret your comment as stemming from fear and lack of knowledge. Pot is NOT a cheap high... an easy escape, etc. I have a PhD in chemistry from UIUC, eng at Intel corp for 7 years, and now make guidance systems for unmanned aircraft... My point is I am highly trained in critical thinking and not a hippie stoner looking for any and all excuses to prove pot is good for people so I can use it. I am NOT a cannabis user currently. But the facts and current research on cannabis are becomging OVERWHELMING in favor of personal use.
This is NOT only an issue of personal freedom. This fight is for the future of human society and sanity. My definition of evil is when a good thing is warped and destroyed, especially when done so unnecessarily and via ignorance.
Responsible use of cannabis needs to come about just like the Berlin wall fell in 1989. It has been building for years and will resistance will eventually crumble to nothing. The DEA and Federal Govt bully tactics and mis-direction will be exposed foor what they are when the full truth is know by most adults in the USA.
31 - Dubya
If you arent for the war on terrorism you support them and therefore are a terrorist by proxy...
so in essence if you support the prohibition of marijuana (or any prohibition for that matter) you support the dealers/pushers who make their money with its illegal trade...
who then support the cartels they buy from and the gang/civil violence related to it...
who then support (at least in strong part) the terrorists who piggyback on these illegal activities funding the violence and fear (terrorism)...
therefore that means if you dont support legalization, taxation, and control, YOU (by proxy) ARE A TERRORIST!
so sayeth the Dubya!
but really...
yes on 19. let true freedom spread through this country like initially intended by our countries first colonists and founders. lets stop ignoring our rights provided by the constitution and the injustices carried out by current legislation and the mislead Americans who negatively judge a person based on a social stigma that was created by fear-mongering and misrepresentation.
simply put, take the time to learn about what it is you so vehemently prohibit. ignorance should NOT rule our society as it so plainly does now.
weight the pros vs. cons (all of them), dont be so foolish as to think immediate trends will be the norm after the initial chaos. dont be afraid of that chaos either as it is the surest sign of change needed and change occurring (darkest before the dawn).
prices WILL fluctuate... first down with initial competition being fierce, then up as the (initial) demands will be high. it may continue on that same trend with changes being less and less each time until it finally reaches an equilibrium and standardized pricing.
Violence WILL occur. well thats just obvious. competition breeds aggression no matter what you are talking about. as stated by so many others however that will reach a boiling point and those for prohibition will use this as an "I told you so" to all those against. however, big-picture is what matters. that violence WILL subside as demands from criminal elements will be negated by the lack of need to break the law (in that regard or over that substance).
kids WILL continue to find ways to try out these controlled substances. its inevitable that if its taboo then its a mystery. if its a mystery then its interesting. curiosity will always abound and push kids (or otherwise) to have a desire to learn more and/or "try" it.
just a few views, but it seems like common sense is just ignored. do you walk down the street with blinders on? then why would you choose to walk through life with them on? learn, grow, think, and apply your knowledge and experience. do NOT let fear keep you from growing.
lastly i must say YOUR PARENTS LIED TO YOU. sadly its true. not with malicious intent, but simply regurgitating what they themselves were told. they are/were JUST as ignorant as you may be. there is a TON of information that can be found online. a simple google search with the word "cannabis" will give you more information then youll ever know what to do with, but get the facts BEFORE taking such strong negative and pessimistic stances. we HAVE to stop the blind from continuing to lead the blind.