Comments on: Poll: 41 Percent Support Pot Legalization

[Joe_NY_15]

You are so sick and twisted in your Liberalism that you consider Rassmussen to be a "extreme right wing website" ???

There is no hope for you, or any point in discussing anything, if you are so warped as to think Rassmussen was "extreme right wing"

If you saw the poll I was referring to, you would see that the poll has been conducted every-day since January. in the same exact non-biased way every day.....so take your bias and shove it, frankly you are your own worse enemy when it comes to actually thinking about something, your twisted liberal mind blocks all open-mindedness or logical thought.

[gunownerdan]

Today marijuana is America's #1 cash crop even though it has been illegal for over 70 years.
Marijuana is stronger and easier to get than ever before while drug gangs and cartels are richer and more powerful than ever before making billions of dollars from selling illegal drugs in a black market created largely by prohibition.
Since marijuana is illegal and unregulated kids in school find it easier to get than alcohol!
The madness must stop!
www.mpp.org
www.leap.cc

[mattcat25]

Libertarians are Republicans that want to smoke weed...man.

[mattcat25]

"so how much other stuff are you full of sh.ite on?"

well, my good GOPee'r as soon as I eat all these Doughnuts, and chips, and cookies, and chocolate bars, and m&m's (with peanuts) and, a slim jim and...well I'll full of that...since you wanted to know! (man)

[norcal441]

Hay Charles Cooper and Declan McCullagh,

Now that you have pumped up your careers by dishing out mind candy to all the drugies in the state, there are some things I'd like to know.
___________________________
Are the two of you going to come foreword and take responsibility when;

1. The new "legalize pot" laws that you promote in your article, make it impossible to get pot out of our schools?

2. The state drug rehabs become the new established "Mega Industry"?

3. The out of control violence that is rampant in the counties that grow pot "legally", spills into the rest of the state and nation?

4. When these demanding and inconsiderate pot smokers start smoking 22% THC in restaurants, theaters, on aircraft, in hospitals, at work.

5. The number of houses that burn down because of miss-wired indoor-grow sites increase ten-fold.

You know you won't. 41% of the state doe's not want pot legalized
___________________________
Are you aware of the shootings, stabbings, home invasions and ecological damage that have proven to be inseparable from pot legalization? (Check Mendocino County CA)

Did you know that way over half the pot that is grown ends up in the hands of kids under 18, way under.

You have to go all the way back to a 1936 black & white movie to take the spotlight off of all the problems that are happening with marijuana today.

Did you know the bulk of the money that fuels youth gangs comes from the sales of marijuana?

Luckily, most of us are more concerned for the children, their health and educations and the truth and we don't forget about the kids just to pump up our careers.

The two of you need to put your hearts in gear and consider the children and the "whole truth" in your research.

[earthling76]

Okay. From the top.

1. In case you haven't noticed, there is plenty of pot in our nations schools.
2. Who goes to rehab for pot? Exclude from your answer those who are forced to enroll via the court system.
3. The violence associated with cannabis is perpetrated by the cartels and gangs that control the market. Stoners are not violent. You cannot in one breath claim that the consumers of cannabis are lazy and sloth like and then turn around and claim that they would become out of control, wild and crazy. Its a contradiction.
4. When prohibition ends you will not have to worry about running into a stoner puffing away in restaurants, theaters, on aircraft, in hospitals, or at work. Most of those places will not allow you to smoke anything as a policy. As far as smoking cannabis at work is concerned, you can't drink alcohol on the job either but it still happens. Those people are usually terminated at the employers discretion.
5. The houses burning down all over the place is one of those imaginary, 'what if' arguments that some people come up with to scare everyone. The only houses I ever heard about burning down are the ones with meth labs.

41% huh. Sounds like a minority vote to me. We still practice democracy in this country and you have just been voted out.

The only reason you are seeing violence in Mendocino is because the cartels and gangs see them as competition. They deal with competition historically by robbing and killing their competitors. As far as the ecological damage is concerned, this only happens because those who cultivate have to do so clandestinely. They are forced to be more concerned with avoiding authorities then with avoiding damage to the ecology. Besides that the cartels who run the operations in our nations parks are the ones perpetrating real damage.

Kids are getting their cannabis from drug dealers not dispensaries. This is where they are more likely to try the harder stuff. You see, if you think like an illegal drug dealer for a moment, you will find that your main objective is money. The know how to market their product and manipulate young people. First, you sell a kid pot. Then you make available other drugs which have an overwhelming capacity to make that kid a long term customer. That is the goal. An addict of something like meth for instance.

[earthling76]

Okay. From the top.

1. In case you haven't noticed, there is plenty of pot in our nations schools.
2. Who goes to rehab for pot? Exclude from your answer those who are forced to enroll via the court system.
3. The violence associated with cannabis is perpetrated by the cartels and gangs that control the market. Stoners are not violent. You cannot in one breath claim that the consumers of cannabis are lazy and sloth like and then turn around and claim that they would become out of control, wild and crazy. Its a contradiction.
4. When prohibition ends you will not have to worry about running into a stoner puffing away in restaurants, theaters, on aircraft, in hospitals, or at work. Most of those places will not allow you to smoke anything as a policy. As far as smoking cannabis at work is concerned, you can't drink alcohol on the job either but it still happens. Those people are usually terminated at the employers discretion.
5. The houses burning down all over the place is one of those imaginary, 'what if' arguments that some people come up with to scare everyone. The only houses I ever heard about burning down are the ones with meth labs.

41% huh. Sounds like a minority vote to me. We still practice democracy in this country and you have just been voted out.

The only reason you are seeing violence in Mendocino is because the cartels and gangs see legal cannabis cultivators as competition. They deal with competition historically by robbing and killing their competitors. As far as the ecological damage is concerned, this only happens because those who cultivate have to do so clandestinely. They are forced to be more concerned with avoiding authorities then with avoiding damage to the ecology. Besides that the cartels who run the operations in our nations parks are the ones perpetrating real damage.

Kids are getting their cannabis from drug dealers not dispensaries. This is where they are more likely to try the harder stuff. You see, if you think like an illegal drug dealer for a moment, you will find that your main objective is money. They know how to market their product and manipulate young people. First, you sell a kid pot. Then you make available other drugs which have an overwhelming capacity to make that kid a long term customer. That is the goal. An addict of something like meth for instance.

Those who want to end the failed and costly policy of prohibition are not looking back to 1936 to make their point. They are looking at a reality that has been emphasized by the earlier prohibition of alcohol. The only reason reefer madness keeps coming into the discussion is because the pro drug war folks keep citing those same tired and irrational arguments and hysteria demonstrated in that film.

Yes, we know how gangs make their money. The only reason it is so irresistibly lucrative for gangs is because it is illegal. You see, the higher the risk (illegal drugs) the higher the reward (money). If you can't understand that then you do not understand capitalism the way you should.

Again, no one is saying that kids should consume cannabis. Where is that coming from? All that needs to be done to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis consumption is to look up the laws concerning alcohol. Copy and paste. Done. If you break those laws by acting irresponsible then you deserve to suffer the consequences.

[DamianGreenthumb]

Its Always "Think of the Children!". The pro-regulation lobby IS thinking of our youth. A regulated product is much less likely to fall into the hands of kids. The "We Card" campaign for tobacco has been a resounding success. The "21 Or Over" HAs also made it more of a challenge to purchase alcahol for young people. When I was selling MJ I NEVER carded anyone. Customers 15-70 years old. Now I actually practiced a modecum of morality. Some dealers DO predate on CHILDREN. Take the power from the "evil doers" and put it in the hands of adults who card. Marijuana is NEVER going away. A drug free world will NEVER be. As long as there are humans, some of them will want to get high, or buzzed on beer, or stick themselves with needles and put stuff up their noses. As long as its in the black market pain and death and social corruption will occur.

[norcal441]

Hay Charles Cooper and Declan McCullagh,

Now that you have pumped up your careers by dishing out mind candy to all the drugies in the state, there are some things I'd like to know.
___________________________
Are the two of you going to come foreword and take responsibility when;

1. The new "legalize pot" laws that you promote in your article, make it impossible to get pot out of our schools?

2. The state drug rehabs become the new established "Mega Industry"?

3. The out of control violence that is rampant in the counties that grow pot "legally", spills into the rest of the state and nation?

4. When these demanding and inconsiderate pot smokers start smoking 22% THC in restaurants, theaters, on aircraft, in hospitals, at work.

5. The number of houses that burn down because of miss-wired indoor-grow sites increase ten-fold.

You know you won't. 41% of the state doe's not want pot legalized
___________________________
Are you aware of the shootings, stabbings, home invasions and ecological damage that have proven to be inseparable from pot legalization? (Check Mendocino County CA)

Did you know that way over half the pot that is grown ends up in the hands of kids under 18, way under.

You have to go all the way back to a 1936 black & white movie to take the spotlight off of all the problems that are happening with marijuana today.

Did you know the bulk of the money that fuels youth gangs comes from the sales of marijuana?

Luckily, most of us are more concerned for the children, their health and educations and the truth and we don't forget about the kids just to pump up our careers.

The two of you need to put your hearts in gear and consider the children and the "whole truth" in your research.

[bobnjersey]

[Are the two of you going to come foreword and take responsibility when; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

1) is there rampant alcohol, tobacco, and premarital sex in all the schools? when are they going to get rid of that?

2) did you know that the pharma business has more lobbyists in washington than washington has elected representatives? they are already a mega industry.

3) overflow from 'legal' is spilling into regions of 'illegal'. isn't this what the argument is ... if it's legal there's no need for it spilling into anything ... cause it's legal for everyone? what's the violence about if it's legal and accessible everywhere?

4) we have all this already ... and it's called a 'cell phone' ... and you can do this anywhere and as loud as you choose.

5) they'll be correctly wired because the owners wont have to hide it. they'll even be a market for safe and effective grow kits that will likely diminish the incidents of people doing things on the sly.


[Did you know the bulk of the money that fuels youth gangs comes from the sales of marijuana? ]

and you believe this will still be the case when it's legal? why aren't the gangs making their money selling coffee, or cigarettes, or beer?


[You have to go all the way back to a 1936 black & white movie to take the spotlight off of all the problems that are happening with marijuana today. ]

with this statement alone you expose the ignorant fool that you are. don't believe everything that the government tells you.

[hungry1968-16]

by Joe_NY_15 July 13, 2009 8:07 AM PDT
CNN ? that's your idea of a news outlet ? CNN is one of the most liberal biased news outlets in the business.







Are you kidding?!?

They're as middle of the road as you can get, right along with the Washington Post.

You use Rasmussen. To counter that, I would have to post polls conducted by Bill Maher and MSNBC.


Your biggest problem right now, is that you're so brainwashed by Fixed News, that you think they are the ONLY station that broadcasts the truth.

I got news for you: When ONE STATION broadcasts stories that conflict with EVERY OTHER STATION in the WORLD, it's not all of the OTHER stations that are broadcasting BS.

[hungry1968-16]

by Joe_NY_15 July 13, 2009 8:05 AM PDT
Rasmussen is where I got my polling date......he's currently at a 38% strongly disapproval rating






Of course you did.

It's the only extreme right wing website that posts a poll of Obama's approval rating.

Why would you go to someplace fair and impartial like gallup, RCP, or politico, when you can go to the polling place of choice for Drudge, Rush, and Hannity?

By the way, last week they claimed Obama had a 32% approval rating, and a 37% disapproval rating. How did Obama's polling numbers go up by 12% in a week, if they're conducting all of their polls at RNC headquarters?

And what happened to the other 31% of those polled - they had "no opinion"?

Seriously?!?!

[Joe_NY_15]

You are so sick and twisted in your Liberalism that you consider Rassmussen to be a "extreme right wing website" ???

There is no hope for you, or any point in discussing anything, if you are so warped as to think Rassmussen was "extreme right wing"

If you saw the poll I was referring to, you would see that the poll has been conducted every-day since January. in the same exact non-biased way every day.....so take your bias and shove it, frankly you are your own worse enemy when it comes to actually thinking about something, your twisted liberal mind blocks all open-mindedness or logical thought.

[earthling76]

Liberal-- to be free from government.

I thought conservatives like the idea of less government. Oh wait,.. thats unless we are talking about imposing conservative morals and religion on everyone else. My mistake.

[mattcat25]

Republicans would want to be against weed (and weed tokers) but, they fully support American Gun Manufactures supplying Military Assault Weapons to Mexican Drug Exporters to America.

It's like (man) a big conspiracal military industrial complex, complex man?

Doooughnuts would good, I think.

[mattcat25]

"so how much other stuff are you full of sh.ite on?"

well, my good GOPee'r as soon as I eat all these Doughnuts, and chips, and cookies, and chocolate bars, and m&m's (with peanuts) and, a slim jim and...well I'll full of that...since you wanted to know! (man)

[earthling76]

Man, with your diet taken into consideration I think smoking cannabis would be the least of your health issues. Way to promote that stereotype buddy.

[mattcat25]

I'm working out! or, I've been think'n about working out...soon as I get one of them gym passes and finish what I have to do thinking about what I have to do, I'm right on it!

I am (man).

[sixtyfps]

mattcat25: your comments read like you're a prohibitionist plant. Really, it's like someone's got the stereotype written down and occasionally queefs out another one of those absurd comments.

If you were a film actor, you wouldn't make it as an extra in Transformers.

[confused58]

You must be high mattcat, no American gun manufacturers supply Mexican drug dealers. The guns are bought by Americans and illegally sold across the border.Only about 17% of guns confiscated in Mexico have come from America even with our open borders.Everybody needs to fire one up and chill.

[Joe_NY_15]

CNN ? that's your idea of a news outlet ? CNN is one of the most liberal biased news outlets in the business.

[Joe_NY_15]

Rasmussen is where I got my polling date......he's currently at a 38% strongly disapproval rating

[babooph]

All that garbage should be legal,when it was there was a lot less trouble with it-those with sense enough to ignore it would not change.

[hungry1968-16]

by Joe_NY_15 July 13, 2009 7:09 AM PDT
Since Obama's approval numbers are about 51%, (not below the % that elected him)....within no time, the number of those polled supporting legalization will equal those supporting the basketball toker.






It's at 51%? According to Gallup, Quinnipiac, and CNN, it's 58%, 57%, and 61%.

Which is funny, because it's AT LEAST three times higher than the approval rating that you 18% are enjoying.

[Joe_NY_15]

Rasmussen is where I got my polling date......he's currently at a 38% strongly disapproval rating

[John_Merritt]

Talk about bogarting.........'and, what was I saying?'

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, trust me I know. All my friends who still smoke today, are actually becoming stupider by the moment. They don't think so, but if you look at their lives; they have become sloppy, forgetful, slackards and flat out lazy.

Of course they are a lot of fun to be around, but there is little substance. And when they do show promise it is fleeting. It never lasts but a few days. How sad, huh? And I am talking about those in their late 30's and 40's. Go for it, dude.

[Joe_NY_15]

Since Obama's approval numbers are about 51%, (not below the % that elected him)....within no time, the number of those polled supporting legalization will equal those supporting the basketball toker.

[npkppprc]

They poll 944 adults and come up with 41% of all Americans want to legalize pot. Trouble is some people will read this article and think it's credible.

[Kyle1965]

"They poll 944 adults and come up with 41% of all Americans want to legalize pot. Trouble is some people will read this article and think it's credible."

There have been several polls this year by various polling companies all showing that support for legalizing marijuana has risen to over 40%. This is just one of many. Support for legalizing marijuana was in the mid thirties a few years ago. It's been rising steadily since 1992. Most of this probably has to do with the fact that people born before marijuana became popular are slowly but surely dying off. Each year close to 2 million of them will die. When you look at more detailed poll results with age demographics data, what you see is that the highest levels of support are always among people 18 to 29, and the lowest levels of support are among those 65 and older. The vast majority of people 65 and older oppose legalization, and most will respond on polls that they "strongly oppose" it rather than just "somewhat oppose it." The baby boomers and younger people are far less opposed to legalization. The oldest boomer is now 63. As more of the "pre-boomers" die off support for legalizing marijuana will continue to rise.

[tx_statistician]

I agree that the results of the poll seem questionable, especially given the dramatic change between the results of the 3/2009 poll and this one. However, the problem is not with the sample size -- you can draw very strong conclusions about the population as a whole from a sample of that size if the sample is truly random and properly stratified. More likely, there is some bias in the composition of the sample that they have not accounted for or some other problem with their methodology.

In reply to some of the other comments that pot makes one "stupid" or "lazy," I would point out that I am a regular pot user pursuing a Master's Degree in Statistics, and I have run two marathons so far this year. I admit that I am probably not the typical pothead, but I don't think it's fair to say that pot use causes these supposed negative effects. I think it's more likely that some people have other issues (depression, for example) that trigger both pot use and apathy.

[clbrown4]

The idea of legalization has been hyped by the media and promoted by the marijuana lobby so naturally the figures would rise. Young people? 77% of rap music contains blatant pro-marijuana messages. But what effect does pot have on education? It causes problems with learning and memory, makes people apathetic and lazy, affects driving, and a lot of companies test employees so it doesn't help you get a job. Not to mention that smoking is bad for health and may cause cancer. A Rand study and follow up of high school students found that abstainers had much better outcomes in every category than pot users. Since only 5% of people currently smoke pot regularly (many underage), legalizing for this minority will not help the economy or society and will give the green light to the kids who should be studying, not getting high.

[Kyle1965]

"They poll 944 adults and come up with 41% of all Americans want to legalize pot. Trouble is some people will read this article and think it's credible."

There have been several polls this year by various polling companies all showing that support for legalizing marijuana has risen to over 40%. This is just one of many. Support for legalizing marijuana was in the mid thirties a few years ago. It's been rising steadily since 1992. Most of this probably has to do with the fact that people born before marijuana became popular are slowly but surely dying off. Each year close to 2 million of them will die. When you look at more detailed poll results with age demographics data, what you see is that the highest levels of support are always among people 18 to 29, and the lowest levels of support are among those 65 and older. The vast majority of people 65 and older oppose legalization, and most will respond on polls that they "strongly oppose" it rather than just "somewhat oppose it." The baby boomers and younger people are far less opposed to legalization. The oldest boomer is now 63. As more of the "pre-boomers" die off support for legalizing marijuana will continue to rise.

[unnamed6]

I think you need to get your facts checked. If it is so terrible for memory than why are they using it for alzheimers b/c studies show it helps slow the process. So try that one again. Also there have never been any studies showing that pit is harmful to those who smoke it or those around them...that is cigaretts! Try again on the only 5% smoke regulary...try much higher..many who would not ever admit it (those in gov. jobs) for fear of losing their lively hoods. So explain why this drug that is used in many countries and was in our own USA for medical purposes should still be banned. If a natural drug is banned such as this one that has many medical puropses then why not bann all chemical man made drugs. Oh that's right drug companies that charge an arm and a leg for drugs that give you many terrible side effects would falter.

[stickdog3]

clbrown4 - 77% of rap music contains blatant marijuana messages. How did you come up with that figure? You also said it causes problems with learning and memory, makes people lazy, etc. Wow! Guess what? You could easily be describing alcohol and prescription drugs. Both of those are legal, and canbe bought over the counter. And both along with their cousin cigarettes, kill more people per yearthan all the casualties of all the wars ever fought in human history. Thats a staggering number. You would have to search high and low to find anyone dying of marijuana consumption. The benefits of this plant is uncalulable. The original U.S. Constituion was written on hemp paper.
Bring it on! I'm ready.

[wangtang211]

Their are studies that have shown that marijuana is easier to get then alcohol and tobacco. We can't just legalize marijuana, we have to regulate it also. We will never stop people from using drugs. We need a stronger educational system to encourage people not to use drugs. It is proven that smoking pot does not cause lung cancer. Also, pot has significant medical value. Prohibition does not work and will never work, but being smart on crime and truthfull to our children will work.

[truthseeker60]

Another Poll with made up numbers, You "Go" CBS. Tell it like you want them to believe you. Oh yeah, only 9.8% unemployment and the economy has turned around, and Goldman Sachs is really okay to bailout again.

[mattcat25]

100% of the 41% are favorable to decriminalize, that means that 100% of 61% (man) are still a bunch of bogarts (man). And, ...what was I say'n???

[John_Merritt]

Talk about bogarting.........'and, what was I saying?'

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, trust me I know. All my friends who still smoke today, are actually becoming stupider by the moment. They don't think so, but if you look at their lives; they have become sloppy, forgetful, slackards and flat out lazy.

Of course they are a lot of fun to be around, but there is little substance. And when they do show promise it is fleeting. It never lasts but a few days. How sad, huh? And I am talking about those in their late 30's and 40's. Go for it, dude.

[mandylou4u]

stupider?, I'm not afraid to say I work in the executive world and partake myself, but I have never used the word "stupider". Is that a word anyway? Whose smokin' again? lol!

[Void_Master]

tx_steve88: "All my friends who still smoke today, are actually becoming stupider by the moment."

Thing is, it's their choice to be like that, not the state's.

"And I am talking about those in their late 30's and 40's"

I'm 52, been tokin' since I was 19 and I do not fit the profile of your 'friends.' The pot may have numbed them, but I suspect that there is something inherent to their personalities that makes them inclined to that behavior. If it weren't pot, perhaps it would be beer, heroin, etc.

There is no question that a bowl o' greens every day will certainly impair one's ability to perform. But that's the thing, someone who does it every day has issues far deeper than smoking dope.

[John_Merritt]

Hey Mandy:

Stupider can be found in MY dictionary between 'stupid and stupor'. You like that, Ms. Power Executive.

Question: How is your company doing right now? How is your productivity? I bet you if I did a time analysis of your work day, you would be sorely lacking in comparison with counterparts in either your company, or similar. Especially after taking a few hits?

Are you laying off all your toker friends, or the ones that do not imbibe? Just a question.

[element51]

John_Merritt......We must be associating with different people. I have smoked for over 30 years and my net worth is over 1.2 million as of yesterday. I know many successful people who smoke and are able to have very productive lives. They represent a wide range of occupations from lawyers to photographers to writers. These are people who are no threat to society and who certainly not slackers or flat out lazy. I would submit that you just might be streaching the truth a bit and I doubt that you have many friends who smoke since you apparently do not. Generally speaking, people who do not smoke do not have very close relationships with people who do smoke. I urge you to look at the whole picture before passing judgement. The benefits of legalizing far outweigh not taking action to legalize.

[aheadace]

It's all about the money

[tx_steve88]

It most definitely could be a money issue. With taxes being raised at every turn, why not legalize pot, allow farmers to grow it legally to reduce their federal subsidies and tax the sales similar to cigarettes. Just think how much law enforcement dollars could be saved not worrying about pot crossing the border.

[earthling76]

Just allowing farmers to grow hemp (the non psychoactive, industrial variety) would greatly increase American farmers capacity to operate independently from the government. But the petroleum based plastic manufacturing industry, paper manufacturing industry, as well as the cotton industry will be just a handful of the lobbies that will try and keep that from happening. The list of lobbies against ending prohibition is a mile long and they resist the will of the people at every turn.