News: Majority of US Now Supports Marijuana Legalization

Pie-kun

Quote:

A clear majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana for the first time in 40 years, according to a poll released Thursday.

In the Pew Research Center poll released Thursday, 52 percent support legalizing the drug and only 45 percent oppose legalization. While support has generally tracked upward over time, it has spiked 11 percentage points since 2010.

The first public poll on legalizing marijuana, taken by Gallup in 1969, found a whopping 84 percent of the country opposed.

In November 2012, voters in Washington and Colorado both decided to legalize marijuana, making those the first two states to do so. Three-fifths of Americans said the federal government shouldn’t enforce marijuana laws in those states. And 72 percent said the government efforts to enforce marijuana laws cost more than they’re worth.

Support for legal weed use has increased across age groups, genders, education levels, ideologies and ethnic backgrounds since 2010. The largest jumps have come from Hispanics, where support rose from 35 percent to 51 percent, and moderate or liberal Republicans, who increased support from 36 percent to 53 percent. Support is lower among older people, and among Republicans and conservatives.

That increase in support has come as Americans move away from a moral opposition to smoking weed. In 2006, 50 percent of Americans said smoking marijuana was morally wrong. Today, the same number say it is not a moral issue.

The poll of 1,501 adults was conducted from March 13 to March 17. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

Source

Dark Matter

I don't think so...

Jameson Teqkilla

Quote:

Originally posted by Maelstrom

I don't think so...

Right, because what you think >>>>>> statistical surveys

Aden

Gaga ha impact!

Jk, this is good news.

BoyOnBoy Wonder

Quote:

Originally posted by Maelstrom

I don't think so...

Thanks for your input, Maelstrom.

ManDown

It's about time!

Pie-kun

Quote:

Originally posted by Maelstrom

I don't think so...

Um?

Pew is not the only polling firm to show this trend. Rasmussen and Gallup have also shown similar results.

Javan

I always thought they were.

Rogue

It's time for Jersey to join in the legalization.

Dark Matter

Pew are notoriously bad with their sampling. The 1,501 people they sampled aren't likely to be representative. They have a poor track record. I remember them predicting the PS3 would have poor sales.

Arking

I don't smoke but I would love this just so we can stop arresting people for possession. It's the most ridiculous thing.

HausOfGerard

Achilles.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maelstrom

Pew are notoriously bad with their sampling. The 1,501 people they sampled aren't likely to be representative. They have a poor track record. I remember them predicting the PS3 would have poor sales.

I agree. 1500 people out of 300 million Americans? That really seems like an accurate representation.

Kamil24

I don't

Pie-kun

Quote:

Originally posted by Maelstrom

Pew are notoriously bad with their sampling. The 1,501 people they sampled aren't likely to be representative. They have a poor track record. I remember them predicting the PS3 would have poor sales.

Quote:

Originally posted by JakeKills

I agree. 1500 people out of 300 million Americans? That really seems like an accurate representation.

Okay, clearly neither of you know ANYTHING about how these types of surveys are done. A 1,500 person sample is REGULARLY done for national polls, such as a presidential races and are widely accepted as accurate because of the complex algorithms that go into them. It's obviously not feasible to poll millions of Americans, especially during times like election seasons. Take a college level statistics class and you'll learn all about it.

Cal

RomanNavy

Rih will be happy about this!!
But finally

I like that the US are finally becoming a lil progressive.

Honey

Quote:

Originally posted by JakeKills

I agree. 1500 people out of 300 million Americans? That really seems like an accurate representation.

!

Gavin.

I wouldn't want it to be legalized but I'd imagine they'd just legalize a certain amount of ounces you can have on you or something right?

Vespertine

Quote:

That increase in support has come as Americans move away from a moral opposition to smoking weed. In 2006, 50 percent of Americans said smoking marijuana was morally wrong. Today, the same number say it is not a moral issue.

I'm a bit confused about this number--wouldn't that mean 50% thought it was not a moral issue in both 2006 and 2013? Unless there was an option like "I have no opinion/unsure" that they're not mentioning.

Personally I think weed is gross but I don't see why it should be illegal while cigarettes and alcohol aren't. Both are far worse for you, addictive, and one leads to car accidents etc. Plus I think it's so stupid that cops are wasting their time busting people for possession when they could be going after actual harmful drugs + the various other problems plaguing our country.