New Poll: Majority of Americans Support Ending Marijuana Prohibition
A new national poll shows that 53 percent of Americans favor ending marijuana prohibition, with support coming from all across the political spectrum: 61 percent among Democrats, 55 percent among Independents and 43 percent among Republicans. This latest poll shows support to be 9 percent higher than a Gallup poll released in October, which showed that 44 percent of Americans favored making marijuana legal.
The new poll conducted last week by Angus Reid Public Opinion also reveals that 68 percent of Americans believe the war on drugs has been a failure. When will our public servants finally listen to the people they’re supposed to be accountable to and reform our country’s marijuana laws?
Tagged with: Angus Reid Public Opinion and poll by the author
50 comments
The people have spoken, let’s just hope our lawmakers will listen.
unfortunately, until corporate lobbying laws are reformed from top to bottom, cannabis prohibition will remain the law of this now woefully unjust land. tea-totalling propagandists will continue to spread the lies that ultimately line their pockets with dirty lobbying cash while suppressing one of the most useful plants on earth to our own detriment. unless the politicians are reminded with the threat of revolution that they work for us and not special interests, the entire idea that we are a “land of the free” is nothing more than bullsh!t political spin.
Hear Hear Jayson… sad as hell to say it… hear hear….
But I think this is a big deal… we gained 9 poll points in 2 months? If this continues the tipping point has been reached and soon marijuana legalization may be running faster than we ever imagined. I want to air on the side of guarded optimism, but I feel like this movement has been shown to follow an almost exponential increase, we are watching as it increased little by little by little and soon that will take off.
Fingers crossed!!
I agree with Daniel, you see 44% in October + your “eyes are wide-open+ shut” like, this is all just a dream. right?
I believe this needs to be regulated+taxed for those 27 + up
Point. Match. Game.
Game. Match. Point.
Match. Point. Game.
I think you understand.
i’m with you, AnAlbinoRaven, i certainly do hope the momentum that the cannabis relegalization movement has gained in the last months and years is sustainable and indeed even able to grow exponentially to the tipping point you speak of. My hopes are high, pun intended, that we will live to see the lies regarding cannabis stamped out in their entirety!
YAY!!!
Proof that most americans DO want to be free to make their own choices. You would think the right would love that stand point.
First of all…Welcome to MPP Kurt! You’ve got some big and beloved shoes to fill…good luck with that. jk…if Bruce has faith in you then we have faith in you.
Back to business…9 points in 2 months? Can you hear the prohibitionists muffled cries as we nail the coffin shut? Good riddance to some very, very bad rubbish. You have to wonder what it’ll be in 2 more months…
everyone, send this to the MSM!!!!
thats great news ! now im not tryin to split hairs… but how many people participated in the poll?
It’s really hard to say that the idea has “gained 9 points”… your comparing two polls from two separate organizations. Sampling sizes, method of survey, wording of the question are all things that can sway a poll one way or another. The true test is if Gallup comes out with another poll showing an increase from the prior poll.
Obviously we still need to deseminate this information, but I doubt you’ll hear much in the MSM because the poll is not one of the big organizations people generally see (Gallup, Rasmussen, CNN/USA Today, etc.) when it comes to polling data.
Do you have the statistics from a prior poll that this organization completed?
Freedom is in sight. Keep tokin and overgrow big bro.
I am very skeptical that there was such a large shift in public opinion in just a few months.
I think you should be too – think of how you would react if the poll said 9% FEWER people supported legalization than just 3 months ago. I doubt you would take it at face value.
Did you look at the margin of error for either of these studies? Did they have the same approach and methodologies? (they were different sources)
I think you guys should use this
“If people let government decide what foods to eat and which medicines to take, their bodies will soon be in such a deplorable state as the souls of those who live in tyranny. ”
Thomas Jefferson quotes (American 3rd US President (1801-09). Author of the Declaration of Independence. 1762-1826)
now is the time to get those folks that can benefit from med. mj out to the polls and out of hideing !!lets speak together on this issue and make are medicine legal .. listen to the people and let us vote this is the way things get done ..there are more folks that want to smoke but are scared to speak up ..we need to get these voices together and let us be free like we are suppose to be end the war on drugs it is a waste of tax payer money and resourses ..give the police a real job like catching all the killers out there and maybe be able to catch these child molestering ass holes that should be behind bars there were they need to be.!! we hear about these young girls and boys that are killed every day ! maybe instead of chaseing pot heads they can do some real work..stay out of donut shops and answer real calls might do the world some good ..so free the weed and let us be free to choose what we want to use as medication!!!
If cannabis is a victimless crime, it effects no one but the one consuming the substance. The question arises, if there’s no victim, “who can complain, what business/concern is it of anyone else but the consumer of the substance?”
The argument arises of whether cannabis is “God’s own medicine?”…or…”The Devils Weed?” Which is it? It seems we have conflicting views/opinions. I guess it’s all in the way one perceives it. I will say this! Because the Devil is [not} in my play book, I'm stuck on " God's own mdicine."
From the two studies government itself has commissioned, we know four things:
1. Cannabis [is] a harmless substance.
2. Cannabis is [not] addictive.
3. Cannabis is [non] toxic.
4. Cannabis is [not] a gateway drug.
If simple application of law of the facts were applied:
1. We would [not] have waisted “one penny” on law enforcement.
2. There would [not] have been “one arrest” [nor] “one incraceration.”
3. Crime associated with cannabis would be [non] existant.
4. We would [not] have lost “one life” on either side in a senseless war on cannabis.
If the bottom line remains personal opinion…as a respectful American citizen…I will respect that personal opinion…
however, I most definately feel that personal opinions should remain…”PERSONAL.” In plain and simple American words to Prohibitionista/Obstructionists…”TEND YOUR BISCUITS!”
Just one more reason why you should never EVER vote Republican.
Over 43% of republicans is still pretty good all things considered.It seems as if there is FINALLY something most Americans can agree on.
GREAT NEWS.. Free the weed!!!
reads more like regurgitation of survey data than analysis.
I’d like to see MPP and its reps do more analysis.
Like others have said, I’d be interested in previous Reid poll results on the cannabis issue, since it’s not very telling to compare these results with Gallup results.
Still though, I think it’s reasonable to say that public opinion is essentially split on this issue. That’s a hell of an improvement over the fringe status to which legalization was relegated for so many decades.
If everyone is not aware, CNN is running a story tonight about a drug tunnel found linking SanDiego with Mexico. Get over there and fill up his blog… let’s use this as an opportunity to spread the word about this poll and the effects of Prohibition on the violence. No need to talk about any increase in support, just that a National Poll was released saying 53% of Americans Support Legalization and 68% say the War on Drugs is a failure.
Very interesting stats — thanks for digging this up! I plan on forwarding it widely. AngusReid checks out as a legitimately respected polling organization — but regardless of how well-known it is, this study certainly can’t hurt to put out there.
Oh the smell of REAL FREEDOM is on the horizion. I want a national referendum to change these silly laws.
[...] Angus Reid Global Monitor shows that 53 percent of respondants think marijuana should be legalized. The Marijuana Policy Project blog is an excellent resource to check out on this [...]
Power to the people, cause the people want legalization!
DB { 12.10.09 at 1:09 pm }
Just one more reason why you should never EVER vote Republican.
I take offense to remarks about Republicans and Tea Party goers. I am a registered Republican, Tea Party Member, Campaign for Liberty member and a small business owner. I support smaller government and the freedom to make your own choices. Please don’t paint with such a broad brush. I actively keep my friends up to date on current Marijuana Law Reform news and direct tons of people to this site!!
maybe Obama will not blow us off, like he has done EVERY town hall meeting or forum, and finally start listening now that the percentages are more in favor of legalizing. After all he has smoked and inhaled ‘that was the purpose’.
They can’t blow us off forever if we continue to speak out.
I believe the Marijuana Legalization issue is gaining strength and widening its demographic as more people are seeing it as an issue of rights, freedoms and injustice.
I would call it the Pot Democracy Movement, where support is coming come many who do not partake but support anthers right to enjoy marijuana as long as it harms no one and in the case of medical marijuana – benefits some.
Growing your own, for your own enjoyment, on your own property, is a personal and private act of civil disobedience. A “: Smoke In” is the equivalent of the Boston Tea Party.
If the House and Senate bring a Marijuana Legalizization Bill to President Obama’s desk, believe me, he will sign it with a smile on his face. He can’t do much in his first term, without cutting his chances of getting other things done to lay the ground work for legalization first. Please give him time. He lets the speakers ask their questions, or say what they have on their mind without cutting them off. This gets the subject in the National News. This gives the public a chance to think about marijuana and it’s uses for themself. Letting these people ask about different angles and uses, helps open more peoples eyes and lets them make up their own minds. Marijuana becomes the talk of the day after each of these events. President Obama and the First Lady are a breath of fresh air, after what we have had for the last eight years. If we cut him off at the knees and cause him to loose the next election, we will get more of the same, and see what we have gained fade away. Go out of your way to bring the subject of legalization up every day, as often as the chance comes up.
I own an orchard in Kentucky. Growing even one plant will cause me to go to jail. Four plants will cost me my home and orchard, and give me a new home, for a longer stretch than a murderer or even a child molester, who should never get out of jail. Planting marijuana on any land that you don’t own, is just wrong, because you can then cause the owner of that land to have it taken away, or cause them to incure legal expenses. That just makes it harder to move forward and sheds a bad light on everyone that’s working so hard to bring legalization about.
Yep, It’s not a matter of if it will become legal; it is a matter of when the government will wake to the fact that they can’t stop it, therefore taxing and regulating would be the best of the alternatives. More acceptance is more widespread. Just spread the word!
I think this is great news. I think I have come up with a policy that would make everyone happy – the LEOs, DEA, the sick, and recreational users. I have passed it around to my tokin’ buddies and others, and everyone likes the idea. Here goes…
-21 and older to possess
-No high driving
-No public toking
-No selling, nor giving any of it to anyone under 21
-The basic law would fall along the lines of privacy rights. It would be legal to grow so many plants for personal use, with an increase in amounts for medical MMJ card-holders – say 5 plants for regular folks, and 8 plants for MMJ patients. Additionally, you would be permitted to transport a certain amount – say maybe 1 or 2 ounces. Anything outside of those guidelines would be a punishable offense. This national policy would do several things.
1. It would allow the DEA and police to keep their jobs – it would still be a law, and those people who are in place to enforce our drug laws now would still be needed to make sure the new policy is followed.
2. It would stop all of the incarceration of peaceful cannabis users, regardless of what they use it for (medicine, food, fun, etc).
3. The amount of money the gov’t gives to the DEA would be reduced dramatically. However, like any other addiction, the DEA would be weened down from it. The first year, they could get their usual amount, then year by year draw it down a bit more. Any money left over from enforcing the country’s new drug policy would be put into a general fund to support local LEOs, as well as research for new police technology and drug treatment programs.
This way, everyone from all spectrums wins. What do you all think?
end prohibition…its stupid…..god don’t make mistakes…who.ever u chose to call him he’s all the same person…and canna bis is not a man made product like alchohol or perscriptions…duhhh….is the world stupid….would they like us to be out of debt with china….they could do it in one day if they legalized…!
come on old people get with the picture and forget all the lies the world has told u…remember u was raised on lies….easterbunny…toothfairy…santaclause….. what’s up with that…
and I’m not even a smoker…? I know what the truth is….!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike #27
I just call it like I see it. Republicans, as a majority, oppose any sort of marijuana reform or any change at all for that matter.
Republicans don’t get things done. In fact, most of them go out of their way to make sure nothing gets done. Dems and independents do. Sorry if you don’t like it, but that’s the way it is right now.
My vote goes to the reps getting things done. Plain and simple.
Mike,
Conservitives do not like to change anything unless it generates money or power.
Weed is Gods creation we all can accept that unless we do not belive in God. God put all things on earth to serve man(marijuana included) , our only job is to tend to care for, and respect his creation. Conservitives for the most part only are religious when it serves them.
1 hour at church a week worshiping and praising God -vs- 40+ hours a week worshiping and praising money and or power.
No one will point out the greed, glutony, ect.
AWSOME!!! THIS IS A GGREAT DAY!!!.HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THESE BILL’S FOR YEARS NOW,LONG HARD HRS.Mpp IS 24/7 AND I AM PROUD TO SAY I’VE BEEN WITH THEM FROM DAY#1,AND UNTIL MY LAST BREATH(HAVE M.S. W/OPTIC NEROITIS.NO SUPPORT FROM’ANYONE’,EXCEPT THE GREAT PEOPLE AT Mpp.KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AMERICA,AND LET PEOPLE ‘LIVE’…..
Oh yeah Mike,
Why do republicans feal that it is our job to compleatly ignore the world we live in and try to totaly destroy the enviroment leaving nothing for our children? God said go forth and prosper , not go forth and dessimate everything in your path.
Jim, you must understand that with Republicans, dems and liberals you have good ones and bad ones. I guess I’m more conservative than anything. I support ones right to choose for their self. I think prohibition is one of the largest scams that has ever been perpetrated on the American people. I know that you can’t legislate morality. Not all Republicans think the way I do but when given the chance, I would vote to legalize. All in favor to lift prohibition need Republicans like Ron Paul and myself. For the record, at the voting booth I wrote in Ron Paul because there was no difference between Bush and McCain.
Mike,
Thanks for the reply. I have no real political affiliation just like to rock the boat.;-)
Marijuana prohibition has been a total failure and is perhaps this country’s greatest mistake. Not only has it created criminals out of nearly a third of the country’s populace, it costs our society billions of dollars every year, creates a strain on our prison system, and has little or no effect on marijuana use in the US. In some cases, prosecuting marijuana use has turned non-violent, middle class kids into violent and unpredictable, career criminals. Once a person has a criminal conviction on their record, they are far less likely to find a good job and become a useful member of society. Other countries with more liberal drug laws have much lower rates of drug addiction among their people. I invite you to my web-page devoted to raising awareness on the assault on our civil liberties: http://freethegods.blogspot.com/
David Scott is right. I have had a hard life after my conviction of possession of less than 4 g’s in N.C. They said it wouldn’t reflect on my record. I do not have a scanner yet but I have an application denial from Crown Ford based on that first offense conviction.
I have a wife and kid and can’t find a job that pays over $8 an hour.
The way I see it is that if you have to use guns, mace, and force to enforce your beliefs you will in turn fall victim to the oldest saying in American history, “live by the gun, die by the gun.
Then they wonder why they inherent so much violence.
In my case, I awoke to the door of my apt. getting kicked in.
They were so busy trying to find other things to get me for I was able to slip out and get to my car. When they realized what was going on I was long gone, their cars were to slow to catch up. I would have got away with it if my neighbor didn’t cooperate with them.
When will our public servants finally listen to the people they’re supposed to be accountable to and reform our country’s marijuana laws?
When One to Two Percent more of the population starts voicing their support toward the End of Pr0hibition.
This new poll just proves one simple thing – the truth is contagious. It has taken decade upon decade, but now we have a majority concensous that cannabis possession should not be an arrestable offense. The thing is, the more the percentage increases, the faster it will grow. When more people realize and accept the truth on this issue, the number of people who will become convinced from the newly awakened will grow. I tend to think of today’s movement as a brush fire. The percentage went up to 30% in the ’70s – that was the cigarette thrown out the car window into the pile of leaves. It sat there, building heat for about 30 or so years – and now, about a year and a half ago, the leaves finally burst into flames (news shows like AC360, etc). Now, it has spread to the woods (congressmen Paul and Frank, etc), and now the forests (congress) are about to become ablaze. Now that we have a majority, the good ol’ boiys in the DEA and local LEOs will begin to sweat, and you can certainly expect new lies, more phony “studies”, and advanced stoner jokes to start circulating throughout the nation. When this happens (and I guarentee it will), refute them with the truth, as we have done so far. You see, this issue goes so far beyond our right to get high – the very idea of prohibition goes full-force against the very principles in which our nation was founded upon. Our fore-fathers and original congress wanted the People to live in freedom and liberty; to be happy, work hard for what they have, and defend everything contained within our borders. Their attitude was – if you are not hurting anyone else or their property, and you do not burden someone else’s rights, then you should be left the hell alone. But prohibition acts to cross-cut that agenda, making American principles litteraly impossible. Also, I have noticed some on here are religious, and some not. If I offend anyone here, I apologize – but how often do you actually pray about this? As for me, I have a good talk with Him every single night about it. I share my feelings, ask Him to help end the fascism, and ask Him to lead me to do the right thing. I believe in Him, and I believe in His gift. I also believe in not hating the prohibs, because I feel sorry for them. I also fesar for them – I mean, what are they going to tell God on judgement day when He asks them, “I gave you cannabis as a help and for you to enjoy. Why did you hate and try to destroy my gift? Why did you hate and persecute the people who DID take advantage of it?” I tell that to some Christians who are prohib and they are left speechless. Some have questions, and I just answer honestly. Not one single argument comes about from it. They just usually accept that I have a different view than their’s, and they never argue about it to me again.
This very exciting news!!!!! Yes, I love attitude it generating. Yes we can and yes we will prevail the truth. Woot! It as some would say, inevitable. And anyone that comes across this wonderful news should spread it and tell all of your friends.
Why should we subject to the below just so we can bailout The California Governor
The Benefits of legalizing pot in California.
* More fires home, miscellaneous and Forests.
* More home invasion for the theft of pot from home growers
* More muggings for carrying up to one ounce of pot.
* More kids smoking pot, with giving a shit less than they do now.
* Definitely a gateway drug.
* More crimes of stealing, because the effect of pot.
* Population increase in using
* More crimes
* More traffic accidents.
=====================
I’m from the Netherlands, and think marijuana is not worse than alcohol…
Leave a Comment