Legalizing Marijuana More Popular Than Republicans

[Ganjarden]

Two recent polls show that legalizing marijuana, which is not treated as a mainstream position by either the political or media establishment, to be more popular than numerous other positions that are considered mainstream. First, here are the polls:

CBS:

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Jan. 11-15, 2009. N=1,112 adults nationwide

"Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal or not?"

Should not 52%, Should 41%, Unsure 7%

Rasmussen, February 13-14, 1,000 adults

In a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, Americans are closely divided on the question of whether marijuana should be legalized: 40% say it should be, while 46% disagree. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure which course is better.(...)

Americans under the age of 40 are much more supportive of legalizing the drug than are older Americans.

While legalizing marijuana is not a majority or a plurality position at this time, it is very close to becoming one. Not only do the long-term trendlines show a dramatic shift in favor of legalization, but a majority of the population under the age of 40 is already in favor of legalization. As such, despite no major political leaders advocating on behalf of it, right now it is only a matter of time--perhaps less than a decade--before legalizing marijuana becomes a majority position nationwide.

It should also be noted that, at 40-41% support, legalizing marijuana is more popular than all of the following:

--Opposing stricter gun control laws (40%)
--Congress (26-40%)
--The war in Iraq (39%)
--Decreasing immigration levels (39%)
--Privatizing Social Security (36%)
--Opposing investigating the Bush administration (34%)
--Opposing national, government run health insurance (32%)
--Vetoing stem cell research (31%)
--The Republican Party (31%)
--Dick Cheney (30%)
--George W. Bush (24-34%)
--Decreasing business regulations (28%)
--Rush Limbaugh (28%)
--Mitch McConnell (22%)
--Preventing the openly gay from serving in the military (17%)
--John Boehner (17%)

In short, legalizing marijuana is more popular than the Republican Party, most leading Republicans, and virtually the entire Republican platform.

I'm sure this is just a partial list so, in the comments, feel free to list more "mainstream" opinions that are less popular than legalizing marijuana.


News Hawk- Ganjarden http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: Daily Kos
Author: Chris Bowers
Contact: Daily Kos
Copyright: 2009 Kos Media
Website: Legalizing Marijuana More Popular Than Republicans