Marijuana and Cannabis News
Via: TakePart.com
As far as the U.S. federal government is concerned, legalizing cannabis even for very sick people is off the table, and not a valid subject for discussion.
But the public sees it differently.
At what point do the politicians catch up with the public?
How high does support for medical legalization, for instance -- which is already between 70 and 80 percent nationwide -- have to go before politicians grow a pair?
Stay tuned; seemingly, for most of them, that hasn't happened yet.
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Its amazing that even with these graphs, videos, and the vast resources the internet has to offer about the issue of marijuana that most people will still believe propaganda from the 1930's.
Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana UseLiberals and those 18 to 29 most in favor; Americans 65 and older most opposedby Frank NewportPRINCETON, NJ -- A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal.When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed. Support remained in the mid-20s in Gallup measures from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30% in 2000 and 40% in 2009 before reaching the 50% level in this year's Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States." The National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2009 found that "16.7 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, an increase over the rates reported in all years between 2002 and 2008."The advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws claims that marijuana is the third-most-popular recreational drug in America, behind only alcohol and tobacco. Some states have decriminalized marijuana's use, some have made it legal for medicinal use, and some officials, including former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, have called for legalizing its use.A Gallup survey last year found that 70% favored making it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana in order to reduce pain and suffering. Americans have consistently been more likely to favor the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes than to favor its legalization generally.Younger Americans Most in Favor of Legalizing MarijuanaSupport for legalizing marijuana is directly and inversely proportional to age, ranging from 62% approval among those 18 to 29 down to 31% among those 65 and older. Liberals are twice as likely as conservatives to favor legalizing marijuana. And Democrats and independents are more likely to be in favor than are Republicans.More men than women support legalizing the drug. Those in the West and Midwest are more likely to favor it than those in the South.Bottom LineSupport for legalizing marijuana has been increasing over the past several years, rising to 50% today -- the highest on record. If this current trend on legalizing marijuana continues, pressure may build to bring the nation's laws into compliance with the people's wishes.Survey MethodsResults for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 6-9, 2011, with a random sample of 1,005 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents by region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.View methodology, full question results, and trend data.For more details on Gallup's polling methodology, visit www.gallup.com.
I write to politicians all the time, slimy grease balls, and only a couple are against marijuana! The main one being Obama! I'm going to try to get some support from doctors. Here in New York we have same sex marriage, and you can even pull stunts over Niagara Falls, but cannabis gets you shit canned by the cops!
The discussion reminds me of an old Dr. Who episode wherein he said something like..."Those in power change the facts to fit their minds."
OMG... 16 ounces of 5150 juice has enough caffeine to kill a person.
http://www.energyfiend.com/caf...http://www.energyfiend.com/dea...
Yep! Caffeine is a drug almost everyone accepts without complaint. This drug "caffeine" sounds horrible, doesn't it? 12 grams or about 3 teaspoons of "caffeine" can kill an average sized person.
"caffeine is the most used drug in the world"
"In its pure form, caffeine is a white, bitter-tasting powder."
"caffeine withdrawal and caffeine addiction"
"caffeine is a major part of many people's morning routine"
"overdose can result in death"
http://www.overcaffeinated.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...
I still cant post any comments in the American weed article
They have already shut down all the despensaries in FT Collins...the show is already old and outdated
Wow. That ruins it for me. I wanted to watch that show. But knowing how it all turns out sucks.So now the prohibitionists will probably use it as a tool, to shut down other dispensaries in other places and other states. They will say " See what happened in Fort Collins with the dispensaries, the public didn't want them, they (the Public) didn't know/realize what they were voting for! I can hear it and see it already.
Actually Mark, I'm gonna have to call bullshit on that. Support for legalization has nearly doubled in the last fifteen years, meaning that a lot of people who used to support prohibition no longer do.
That didn't happen by magic bro. That happened because a lot of folks started using this new communication medium called the Internet to combat government lies with scientific facts. And you know what? The facts are winning.
Once upon a time, most people believed the Earth was flat. They weren't less intelligent than modern humans. They just hadn't seen any evidence otherwise. Most people are capable of making the right decision when they have access to accurate information. How about you help us get that information out there?
how many elderly people have died in the last 15 years? as the old ways die, new ways are born.besides guys, i was referring to the people that refuse to hear anything, and won't change.
Mark, I understand your frustration with that segment of the population which simply refuses to acknowledge facts which do not support their pre-existing prejudices. Their are undoubtedly some people who would continue to believe that marijuana is the devil's weed even if they witnessed it being used to help amputees regrow lost limbs. However, most people are genuinely able to change their views when presented with the facts.
As to your question, roughly 20 million elderly people have died over the last 15 years. I base this estimate on an annual mortality rate of 0.7% (total mortality is 0.79% annually, but we have to account for all the people who croak before they're able to collect social security).
Now, in 1996, the adult population of the US was about 205 million and 75% of this number did not support legalization. That's about 153 million opponents. In 2011, the adult population was almost 237 million and 50% didn't support legalization. That's about 118 million opponents.
So, over the last 15 years, 20 million elderly people died, while the number of Americans opposed to marijuana legalization dropped by 35 million. Even if every single elderly person who passed away opposed legalizing pot (clearly not the case) that leaves another 15 million who evidently just changed their minds.
It's not an overnight process but we're moving in the right direction. Keep working to get the facts out there -it really works!
We have to work to change the hearts of people. You cannot fill a cup that is already full. What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. Compassion for your brother man is the only thing that will change the world.
i do not agree that most people will change their views when presented with facts. sure they are genuinely able to , they just don't. otherwise we would have legal doobies. how can you sit in this world that we live in, and say these things? the facts have been there for years.
now if you take the number of children that became adults in that same period you will find that your changed minds are a small group indeed. the old guard runs things, until they are gone nothing will change. those that have the power, make the rules.
I'm with Steve on this one. Your first sentence read, "to combat ignorance, with fact, and, evidence, is a fools folly." What do you suggest, Mark?
to combat ignorance, with fact, and, evidence, is a fools folly. the ignorant have all the "facts" they need.
No.
You want to know what's really dumb?
To declare defeat before you even try fighting.
No thanks!
steve, you took it wrong, i'm not giving up, i'm outliving the ignorant fucks. younger people seem to be more amendable, not so damn stubborn.
Mark, we need more positive thinking. Your negative attitude on another good article by steve sucks dude. Try to be happier. I and many other people have legal access to marijuana. The world is getting better every day. We are witnessing the end of marijuana prohibition. Enjoy it while you can! :)
Younger people alot of time need the advice of their elder's. That's how you become unignorant of certain thing's when it come's to life in general. There can never be to much knowledge when it come's to self-preservation. That preservation of one's self could be MMJ. I know it is for so very many . I for one will never give up the fight for what I know is rite. And I will not let the political pig's take my self-preservation!.
