420 Warrior
Well-Known Member
Taxing Internet sales is acceptable to most Michiganders, but legalizing marijuana is not, according to a Free Press/WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) poll.
Respondents to the poll by EPIC-MRA of Lansing supported the imposition of Michigan's 6% sales tax on online purchases from retailers based out of state 54%-39%.
But legal possession and use of pot was rejected, 50%-45%.
The survey of 600 likely voters was conducted Jan. 21-25 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Despite the favorable results for advocates of Internet sales tax collection, those who felt strongly about the issue were nearly evenly divided, favoring taxation by only 31%-30%. Opponents were on display Friday after a report about the poll was posted on freep.com.
"Good luck enforcing and collecting this tax. Other states have tried and failed!" said a reader identified as Matthew DeLand.
Advocates for legalizing marijuana, currently preparing a petition drive to put the issue before voters, appear to face tough odds. Political analysts typically regard a ballot proposal that starts a campaign with less than 60% support as a long shot.
Marijuana proposal struggles for support in poll of Michigan voters
Michigan voters are markedly less enthusiastic about legalizing marijuana for general use than they were for its use medicinally in 2008, according to a Free Press/WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) poll.
The poll, conducted by EPIC-MRA of Lansing, found only 45% of likely voters support legalizing the possession and use of marijuana. Fifty percent were opposed, with 5% undecided.
Medical marijuana was approved by nearly 63% of the state's voters in 2008. Backers of legalized pot are launching a petition drive to place the issue before voters in November. Other states, including Colorado, are looking at similar proposals. A legalization campaign in California was rejected by voters in 2010.
Somewhat surprisingly, the strongest support in Michigan for legal pot was not among younger voters, but those on the tail end of the baby boom. Only 43% of poll respondents younger than 40 supported legalization. The highest level of support was in the 50-55 age group, where legalization was backed 55%-42%.
Voters older than 65 were least likely to support legalization, 40%-56%.
Joan Russell, 75, of Flushing said she was adamantly opposed. Allowing people with serious medical problems to use marijuana is OK, she said, "but not the rest of the population. You'd have crazies running around everywhere ... committing crimes and driving."
Another senior, however, Ruth Haynes-Merrifield of Three Oaks, said she would vote yes. Although Haynes-Merrifield, a retired schoolteacher, said she never used pot, she believes making it legal would "take away the mystique."
"I think it would be abused, sure," she said, "just like alcohol is abused. But I doubt that it will pass."
Legal marijuana's prospects would improve if only Democrats vote, according to the poll. Democrats support legalization 57%-38%. A majority of self-described independents also support legalization, 51%-41%. But Republicans are overwhelmingly opposed, 29%-68%.
Geographically, Wayne County was the only area of the state where legal pot enjoys majority support, 55%-40%.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Source: Detroit Free Press
Author: Dawson Bell
Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Detroit Free Press
Website: freep.com
Respondents to the poll by EPIC-MRA of Lansing supported the imposition of Michigan's 6% sales tax on online purchases from retailers based out of state 54%-39%.
But legal possession and use of pot was rejected, 50%-45%.
The survey of 600 likely voters was conducted Jan. 21-25 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Despite the favorable results for advocates of Internet sales tax collection, those who felt strongly about the issue were nearly evenly divided, favoring taxation by only 31%-30%. Opponents were on display Friday after a report about the poll was posted on freep.com.
"Good luck enforcing and collecting this tax. Other states have tried and failed!" said a reader identified as Matthew DeLand.
Advocates for legalizing marijuana, currently preparing a petition drive to put the issue before voters, appear to face tough odds. Political analysts typically regard a ballot proposal that starts a campaign with less than 60% support as a long shot.
Marijuana proposal struggles for support in poll of Michigan voters
Michigan voters are markedly less enthusiastic about legalizing marijuana for general use than they were for its use medicinally in 2008, according to a Free Press/WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) poll.
The poll, conducted by EPIC-MRA of Lansing, found only 45% of likely voters support legalizing the possession and use of marijuana. Fifty percent were opposed, with 5% undecided.
Medical marijuana was approved by nearly 63% of the state's voters in 2008. Backers of legalized pot are launching a petition drive to place the issue before voters in November. Other states, including Colorado, are looking at similar proposals. A legalization campaign in California was rejected by voters in 2010.
Somewhat surprisingly, the strongest support in Michigan for legal pot was not among younger voters, but those on the tail end of the baby boom. Only 43% of poll respondents younger than 40 supported legalization. The highest level of support was in the 50-55 age group, where legalization was backed 55%-42%.
Voters older than 65 were least likely to support legalization, 40%-56%.
Joan Russell, 75, of Flushing said she was adamantly opposed. Allowing people with serious medical problems to use marijuana is OK, she said, "but not the rest of the population. You'd have crazies running around everywhere ... committing crimes and driving."
Another senior, however, Ruth Haynes-Merrifield of Three Oaks, said she would vote yes. Although Haynes-Merrifield, a retired schoolteacher, said she never used pot, she believes making it legal would "take away the mystique."
"I think it would be abused, sure," she said, "just like alcohol is abused. But I doubt that it will pass."
Legal marijuana's prospects would improve if only Democrats vote, according to the poll. Democrats support legalization 57%-38%. A majority of self-described independents also support legalization, 51%-41%. But Republicans are overwhelmingly opposed, 29%-68%.
Geographically, Wayne County was the only area of the state where legal pot enjoys majority support, 55%-40%.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Source: Detroit Free Press
Author: Dawson Bell
Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Detroit Free Press
Website: freep.com
