Poll finds for first time, majority in Calif. support legal marijuana

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story


Poll finds for first time, majority in Calif. support legal marijuana

By Stephen C. Webster

Published: May 5, 2009

A recent Field Research Corporation poll of Californians found, for the first time ever, a majority in the state support legalizing marijuana and taxing it similarly to alcohol.

The poll (PDF link), an “independent and non-partisan survey,” centered mostly on tax issues. Results were culled from the answers of 901 registered California voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent.

“Three in four support increasing two so-called “sin taxes” - the state tobacco tax and the state alcohol tax. Majorities also endorse several other forms of sin taxes that are not currently taxes, including a special tax on the sale of pornography, which an overwhelming 80% support, and legalizing marijuana and taxing its proceeds, supported by 56%,” the poll found.

California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, of San Francisco, introduced legislation in February which would legalize marijuana for recreational use and tax its sale.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/08/blog/2009/05/05/poll-finds-for-first-time-majority-in-calif-support-legal-marijuana/

[Stump]

1. K&R

Legalize it!!!

[fujiyama]

2. I'm kinda amused by the porn tax

I'd completely support such a tax considering if you're stupid enough to BUY porn, you should be taxed for it.

[nichomachus]

6. Porn tacks? Where would you stick them?

Oh God, I crack myself up sometimes.

:rofl:

[No Elephants]

13. Written homonym puns are difficult, but you cracked me up, too.

[pleah]

3. K&R#5

[montanto]

4. Go Tom!!

About time they open up that gold mine.

[Politicalboi]

5. In 2010 if it were on a ballot

It would pass for sure. I wish it could happen over night but seeing some kind of light at the end of the tunnel is good.

[nichomachus]

7. Maybe we could put pot legalization and the repeal of Prop H8 in the same question.

At least, we'd get all the stoners voting against Prop H8 -- assuming they remembered to go vote.

[sarcasmo]

8. Kick for Government bud.

[musiclawyer]

9. The State was not prepared for 420(Compassionate Use)Act

I really hope that if someone writes a legal marijuana act, they think the langauage through;


where does the bud have to come from?

who gets to sell retail?

who gets to sell wholesale?

who is exempt from the tax?

who collects?

how?

when?


what are the limitations on use?

what are the legal limits for intoxication?

what are the penalties?

I'm a lawyer and don't like streamlined laws requiring cleanup legislation later because judges fuck things up in subsequent litigation. So I'm in favor of comprehensive legislation. It also leaves less room for critics to wail about unknowns.

[bluedigger]

10. You raise some good points

I'm pro-legalization, but how do you measure intoxication for situations like driving under the influence? As far as I know, it's positive/negative as far as testing goes now...

[sofa king]

15. It can be treated just like a cell phone.

In many states now it is illegal to drive while using a hand-held cell phone. After an accident, you can't test someone's blood to find out if they used a cell phone in the past month. Dick Cheney knows exactly when you called and to whom, but I don't think those records are available to state prosecutors.

So what you do is hope the officer saw something, round up witnesses, have the prosecutor bluster about over it for a while, and then drop the charge later. It also means that police officers are going to have to witness and act upon bad driving in the first place, which is a concept some have left completely behind thanks to the breathalyzer--ask any African American driver who has been pulled over for DWB.

Some years ago now, there was a newspaper article which claimed that people using cell phones while driving suffered nearly the same loss of skill as those who drive under the influence of cannabis. No doubt there are some who do both at the same time right now.

Back in about 1989 or 1990, I attended a lecture given by the president of NORML. He said that NORML was aware of a promising saliva test which could show recent (within 2 hours) use, but he also said that governments and companies were actively seeking to stop the research. I suppose they succeeded.

[DCKit]

11. Because the world didn't come to an end with medical MJ?

You just know it's all going to lead to pot fueled, incestuous orgies with farm animals, infants and produce.

Just don't invite the Republics, or nobody will have a good time.

[Drum]

12. But...in CA you won't be alowed to smoke it indoors,

or within 25 feet of any building entrance.

;)

[No Elephants]

14. So, the Mormons don't care about mj?