I'm unsure just where Donald Trump stands on legalization of marijuana (since he's flip-flopped on the issue several times), but he picked an Attorney General that opposes it. Jeff Sessions has said "only evil people use marijuana", and said in an interview last week:
“I would just say it does remain a violation of federal law to distribute marijuana throughout any place in the United States, whether a state legalizes it or not.”
This meshes with the rumors coming out of the administration that the Justice Department, with Sessions at its head, is going to more forcefully crack down on marijuana possession and use -- even in states where its use has been legalized (both for medical and general use).
That would be a mistake, and would once again put the Trump administration in opposition to what the majority of Americans want. As the top chart shows, about 59% (nearly 6 out of 10) think marijuana should be legal. Only two groups (those over 65 and Republicans) want marijuana to remain illegal. All other groups want it legalized.
And when it comes to cracking down on states that have legalized it, the numbers go up sharply. About 71% say the federal government should not do that, and all groups agree with significant majorities -- including those over 65 (60%) and Republicans (55%).
I would think the administration (and the Republican Congress) are going to have enough trouble with the public over their plans to cut taxes for the rich, repeal Obamacare, Privatize Medicare, and cut Social Security benefits. It makes no sense that they would add another unpopular move to those they already have. But then the Republicans haven't made sense in a very long time.
The charts above were made from information in a recent Quinnipiac University Poll -- done between February 16th and 21st of a random national sample of 1,323 voters, with a 2.7 point margin of error.
Sure it’s all “states rights” until it is something they don’t agree with. Stench of their hypocrisy is overwhelming.
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