Marijuana Legalization Coming ?

For those of us who would like to see the legalization of marijuana finally happen this is turning out to be an important year. There are important measures on the November ballot in several states. In Arizona and South Dakota voters will be deciding whether to allow the sale of medical marijuana. It's possible they will join 14 other states (and the District of Columbia) that already allow the medical use of marijuana.

Oregon will be voting on the establishment of nonprofit state-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries to make it easier for those with a prescription to get their marijuana. The measure on the ballot in Detroit would go even further. It would decriminalize the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana for adults.

But perhaps the most important election will be held in California. California voters will be deciding whether to become the first state to legalize marijuana for adult use. If passed, proposition 19, would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. It would also allow Californians to grow marijuana in a plot no larger than 25 square feet, and would allow cities and counties to authorize the cultivation, transportation, sale and taxing of marijuana.

A majority of Californians are in favor of legalizing marijuana, but it is not a prohibitive majority. Whether the measure passes or not will depend on which side can get its voters to the polls on election day. All of this ballot action brings to mind a question -- just what do Americans think of legalizing marijuana these days?

I guess Rasmussen Reports had the same question, because they just conducted a survey on American attitudes toward marijuana. They conducted the survey of 1000 people on July 21st and 22nd (and it has a margin of error of 3%). It turns out that the country is split on the question of legalization.

SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED?

Yes...............43%

No...............42%

Not sure...............15%

It couldn't get any closer than that. But the amazing part is that no matter what they currently think of legalization, more than two-thirds of Americans (65%) think that marijuana will be legalized within the next ten years. Here are the figures:

HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT MARIJUANA WILL BE LEGALIZED IN 10 YEARS?

Very likely...............29%

Somewhat likely...............36%

Not very likely...............23%

Not at all likely...............5%

Not sure...............7%

Meanwhile, three out of four Americans support the use of marijuana for medical purposes and four out of ten Americans admit to having used marijuana. Here are those figures:

SHOULD PATIENTS BE ALLOWED TO SMOKE MARIJUANA PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR?

Yes...............75%

No...............14%

Not sure...............11%

HAVE YOU EVER SMOKED MARIJUANA?

Yes...............40%

No...............55%

Not sure...............5%

It should be interesting to see how these ballot measures come out in November. And looking at these figures, it should also be interesting to see what happens in the next ten years. Is America finally ready to start down the path of legalization for marijuana? The only answer right now is maybe.