In response to Jeff Sessions Foolishly Targets Pot: 3 Reasons Measure Can’t Work, one reader mocked a reference to a poll showing 64% approval for legalization.
The poll is very believable. In fact, there are two such polls, by reputable pollsters. The only groups not in favor of legalizing marijuana are aging “Neanderthals” and self-righteous Evangelicals.
Let take a look at a poll by Gallup and another by Pew.
**Gallup – Record-High Support for Legalizing Marijuana Use in U.S.**
Gallup Republican Support
Pew – 61% Support Legalization
Pew Partisan and Age Gaps
There is nothing unbelievable about either of the polls although clearly one or the other is wrong about Republicans in general. But Pew has some further believeable breakdowns.
“Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, those younger than 40 favor legalizing marijuana use, 62% to 38%. Republicans ages 40 to 64 are divided (48% say it should be legal, 49% illegal), while those 65 and older oppose marijuana legalization by more than two-to-one (67% to 30%). “
“Sizable majorities of Democrats and Democratic leaners younger than 40 (79%) and 40 to 64 (70%) favor marijuana legalization. Older Democrats – those 65 and older – are more divided (50% favor legalization, 42% oppose it).”
The aging dinosaurs will soon be gone.
The support for legalizing marijuana is large and growing. Going against such strong public opinion is outright foolish.
And of course the entire was on drugs was a colossal waste of taxpayer money. They should legalize them all.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
The science studying marijuana compounds is incredible. I expect BIG PHARMA to try and take over but its largely organic compounds and would you spend tons of money on research for a common plant which anyone can grow? The drug companies are probably indifferent or opposed, but right now their pain product, Opioids, is not held in very high regard. The development of MJ is akin to what aspirin (tree bark) did for pain relief, and all the variations of that times 100.
Just legalize it already. While it would probably be a better world if no one smoked it, there’s no way to stop its use. Better to tax and regulate it than throw people in jail for using it.
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Sessions still has to enforce the law, whether he agrees with it. His position might force Congress to do something, which is hand the problem off to the states. People who are in favor of legalizing POT do not want their children using it. PERIOD. As far as age demographics most of the customers at the local Med Dispensary are over 65. Pot serves several purposes, pain relief, mood enhancement, it does in one dose what it takes several pharmaceuticals to accomplish.
Figures females are less in support of the restoration of our personal liberties. They love bending over for big daddy government. Their body their choice when it comes to being able to murder, however.
Looks like we’re running out of good people, as least as Sessions defines them!
How many Polls had Hillary as a sure win for Potus? Polls are nothing but manufactured consent. I wave the bullshit flag. Thanks for the fake news mish
@Carl_R
I suspect the position of those commenters are more akin to those who don’t particularly care whether there is some ridiculous “law” on some book somewhere, banning gay 64-year olds from driving barefoot on Thursdays, as long as enforcing such “laws” are appropriately neglected.
I must be missing something in the polls above. How many people favor keeping it illegal, but only selectively enforcing it in some places, or at some times? Based on comments against Sessions, there obviously is strong support for that position as well.
Point 1: That DuPont theory is highly disputed. Point 2: White evangelicals (at 38%) sure don’t like the government forcing gay marriage cake baking on them but apparently have no issue forcing their morality on everyone else.
There is a third group. DuPont and Nylon manufacturers. Hemp fibers are very soft. In fact, it was Dupont that was one of the initial requestors to have it outlawed. And what about the ethanol industry. Hemp seeds have a lot of oil. It’s a very useful plant.
Mish – I suspect there are two significant economic forces who oppose legalization of marijuana – 1. The folks who sell it illegally for a hefty premium and 2. the law enforcement organizations who get a hefty boost to their budgets to enforce pot laws. Not to mention the religious folks who need vices to rail against to keep their own revenues flowing. What the world really needs is a few less folks who know what the world really needs.