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Zogby Poll: Nearly Half Of Americans Believe Pot Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol -- Majorities In The East And West Coasts Back Legalization

Sun, Mar 19, 2006 5:43 pm

Washington, DC: Nearly one out of two Americans support amending federal law "to let states legally regulate and tax marijuana the way they do liquor and gambling," according to a national poll of 1,004 likely voters by Zogby International and commissioned by the NORML Foundation.

Forty-six percent of respondents -- including a majority of those polled on the east (53 percent) and west (55 percent) coasts -- say they support allowing states to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. Forty-nine percent of respondents opposed taxing and regulating cannabis, and five percent were undecided.

"Public support for replacing the illicit marijuana market with a legally regulated, controlled market similar to alcohol -- complete with age restrictions and quality controls -- continues to grow," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "NORML's challenge is to convert this growing public support into a tangible public policy that no longer criminalizes those adults who use marijuana responsibly."

Respondents' support for marijuana law reform was strongly influenced by age and political affiliation. Nearly two-thirds of 18-29 year-olds (65 percent) and half of 50-64 year-olds think federal law should be amended to allow states the option to regulate marijuana, while majorities of 30-49 year-olds (58 percent) and seniors 65 and older (52 percent) oppose such a change.

Among those respondents who identified themselves as Democrats, 59 percent back taxing and regulating marijuana compared to only 33 percent of Republicans. Forty-four percent of Independents and 85 percent of Libertarians say they supported the law change.

Respondents' opinions were also influenced by religious affiliation. Nearly 70 percent of respondents who identified themselves as Jewish, and nearly 60 percent of respondents who said they were non-religious believe that states should regulate cannabis, while only 48 percent of Catholics and 38 percent of Protestants support such a policy.

A previous Zogby poll of 1,024 likely voters found that 61 percent of respondents opposed arresting and jailing non-violent marijuana consumers.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, or Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.

» add a comment

bigevl

Jan 5 2007, 10:08 pm

their too stupid to know they can make a ton of tax dollars. Make more room in prisions for rapist.etc...
Dress nice when you demonstrate, Take a whole illegal industry and bring it into the light as GOD ment it to be. Lawenforcement will get theirs in HELL as how they acted on Earth.
Love Drug (thats the problem) 40+ years the US government been lieing.

Ezza

Apr 22 2006, 10:21 am

I agree completely. I live in Australia, and marijuana is illegal here too.

A friend of mine was growing a plant in the backyard for mum who suffers from chronic back pain.

Someone called the cops, and they dug up the plant and took it away just before it was ready for harvest, but she was never charged. We later found out from a friend who's father is in the PD that the evidence 'vanished'.

Big BLAZE

Apr 21 2006, 3:42 pm

How do i grow my on weed plant, do I get the seed that`s in the weed i just bought are what.
P.S. NOW LIGHT THE BLUNT!!!

Big BLAZE

Apr 21 2006, 3:08 pm

WUZ UP HIGH TIME I LIKE THE MAGAZINES AND THE PRODUCTS KEEP ME POSTED ON THE NEW PRODUCTS THAT WORK.
P.S. TO ALL THE WEED SMOKER
LIGHT EM UP. WEED 4LIFE

tammy

Apr 11 2006, 6:50 pm

how to grow weed tree

DZoretic

Mar 24 2006, 6:47 am

I agree with you, Easy Vapor. This has been a political game for years, if we are going to win the game with have to play by the rules that "they" have set up. Alas, but most Americans spend most of their lives never even bothering to contact one person elected to represent them. If people could also pick up the phone and tell a state or federally elected official how they feel, along with posting it here, maybe some day we would see a change.

EasyVapor

Mar 23 2006, 11:10 pm

OK, to those of you who take a factual and intellectual approach to the fight against govt. oppression, this message is not for you.

Don't you people see?!! God damn, if a govt official who was assigned to investigate what potsmokers are talking about was told to come to this website, would you be happy to know he was reading this crap!! After reading some of the unintelligible, thoughtless, neanderthal shit you people are writing, what proof do they need that weed makes people dumb and apathetic. You're proving their point FOR THEM!!! I like a good j as much as the next guy, but if weed is going to be legalized, how much respect do you think you deserve if you're argument for legalization is: c'mon man, life would just be way better if we all hit the bong, we'd all be like, on a higher plane, haha. Give me a break. Acting dumb and careless is not going to demand anyones respect, or command anyones attention, don't you realize that??
Son of a bitch, if you're going to talk and act like burnouts, just do heroin or something, and don't try to represent the people that actually are trying to accomplish something.

k.c.

Mar 22 2006, 6:29 pm

If I had to bet money on it I would go for 25-30 years and the dutch system would probably provail....we just have to wait fot the older "harsh" generation to die off......rip old schoolers

anonymous

Mar 22 2006, 12:44 pm

If all the leaders met and smoked a fatty..i say osama is still liable to kill somebody..he may want to kills less but he probably still has the urge....I think in a matter of 5 years marijuana will be legal..A lot has changed over the past 5 years..People need to realize that marijuana is a moral decision..The U.S government has been choosing its citizens personal views and beliefs for a long time..It's about time for a change...

Tony J

Mar 22 2006, 6:23 am

I think we should just take a step back and think about what were doing to people. You can't punish someone who smokes because you think its wrong when you let someone drink your saying the opposite of what your doing...think about it....its a free country I shouldn't have to hide what I'm doing and risk getting in trouble for what I think is right. Lets be reasonable and not punish so harshly the people are not hurting anyone and minding there own business. Someone needs to wake up and smell the coffee and be fair to people who enjoy smoking in there free time.

peopleschamp024

Mar 22 2006, 1:02 am

the war in iraq could be over if the learders all sat together and smoked a fattie

nikateenchild

Mar 22 2006, 12:55 am

hell yeah slinky

peopleschamp024

Mar 22 2006, 12:41 am

I think weed should be leagalized but i dont think it will happen anytime soom because the government makes too much money off it already. ex you get busted smoking a joint then you go to jail, pay fines, court costs(100 bucks a session) and get probation)50 a month). and like a tried and true pot head they now you'll smoke anyways so they will pop you with a random test every month at 15 bucks a pop(i had to test twice a week). then you fail so what do u do go to court(another 100) and then they put you in a class that costs an arm and a leg up your tests and screw you a new one. and if you screw up again they will lock your ass up for a month(500 bucks room and board in jail) and it just keep going and going. so yes i think it should be leagal but their making alot of money on catching you so it prolly wont stop till they stop catching us. ps all a true storey.

Slinky

Mar 22 2006, 12:34 am

The world would be a better place if everybody was high

nikateenchild

Mar 21 2006, 10:17 pm

look mother fucker i put it on so i could talk with other smokers 2 try 2 get a better perspective on on where ppl stand and why they stand there.look i do what i do .no one can trace my home through my email u dopy fuckya.listen if u wanna talk shit ill fuck u up and i got all the hatchet family backing me up.id u step 2 1 of us u better step 2 the whole crew.so dont fuck with a juggalo bitch boy.

skinhead

Mar 21 2006, 9:48 pm

I love pot!

Potent Honesty

Mar 21 2006, 5:53 pm

Is it whining or is it indignation? STOP smoking the joint for a second, and read between the lines. Yes, most of it is whining, but only because half of the people here are complete wastes of space. I never started smoking because it opened my mind or anything, i just did it because it tastes good and i take pride in a beautifully rolled blunt (stay away from stores run by a whole family of arabs because they are guarenteed to give you old stale cigars). I guess it got me high, and i liked it, but by no means does it take you to some parallel universe, or to a higher consciencousness. It kinda takes me to a lower consciencousness, actually. But please, just leave us smokers alone if you dont like what we say. Dont want to read it? Close your fucking eyes (or maybe get a girlfriend)

Fatty!

Mar 21 2006, 12:04 pm

Only we the people can make marijuana legal. The government has to what we,"American citizens" tell them to do! This is our counrty and if we want Marijuana legal then it will be.

Legalize!!!!

OU812?

Mar 21 2006, 10:47 am

((LEGALIZE))

lsdthc&amt

Mar 21 2006, 5:37 am

for real, shut up and smoke a joint

dragonforce=god

Mar 21 2006, 5:32 am

you all whine too much

congobob

Mar 21 2006, 4:22 am

I am a daily smoker and have been for 5 years now. I have never been arrested, I have a job, and I pay my bills on time. On top of that I run 5 miles on a treadmill 4 times a week. I have had no negative effects from marijuana(besides some random paranoia every now and then). There is no reason why it should be illegal.

T-money

Mar 21 2006, 2:55 am

I belive they should legalize it. i got aressted for having a joint a joint got me 1 year probation and a drug class i've never been in aressted before it is all stupid i smoke to relive my migrains so i dont have to take those stupid pills they prescribe that cost 75$ for 4 pills and they make you feel like shit you can't move they paralize you for hours while your forced to lay there in pain i would just smoke a joint and the pressure in my head would leave. i'm not a bad person the whole time i was in cuffs the cops did nothing but say o your such a bad person how does smoking pot make you a bad person so i guess i like the color green to does that make me a bad person to

Soul Brother #1

Mar 21 2006, 2:12 am

Either this is some police scam or you are the dumbest mother fucker out there!!
You put your e-mail addy on a MARIJUANA web sitte?????

any body conects with that e-mail and you are dumber than Nik!!

Soul Brother #1

Mar 21 2006, 1:24 am

Just grow your own and stop letting them sell you people all this bullshit.. You ask for this and you cant even see it.. Supply and demand, take the supply outta there hands and then you can have some more demands!! Until then just keep takin what they are giving!!

skinnybuddha666

Mar 21 2006, 1:05 am

they should not be allowed to legalize pot.the dirty bastards willjust tax the shit out of it. just think about it, pot is one of the few things you can still buy and not have to give some sleazeball politician/coporate crony mother fucker a little bit extra just to get his fucking permisssion to buy the shit

curtis

Mar 20 2006, 10:21 pm

i think ii should be legalized

joel

Mar 20 2006, 9:18 pm

its not that bad i mean weed smokers r so much more chill and laid back then regular people that dont smoke SO FUCKIN LEAGALIZE IT !!!!!!

holy plant

Mar 20 2006, 9:18 pm

Marijuana shall set US all free exposing corporate and federal espionage. send em to jail

You have to wonder

Mar 20 2006, 8:42 pm

sup

Mar 20 2006, 7:41 pm

What puppets some people are.

EasyVapor

Mar 20 2006, 7:37 pm

There is not a single reason to keep marijuana illegal. Alcohol damages the liver, can lead to domestic abuse, and inhibits judgement. How many of you have heard of a call to 911 because "daddy got so high he was so angry" NEVER HAPPENS/NEVER HAPPENED.
Wars over clientel in large cities would be ended, so there would be less drug related violence. I am personally angry that my tax money pays for imprisoned people who possessed/distributed weed. It is a plant that grows on our Earth. It is non-addictive, does NOT affect your immune system, does NOT kill brain cells, does NOT inhibit memory. Only if smoked does it have any adverse effects at all (harm to the lungs of course). The aggravating part is that every single anti-drug add the god damn govt releases is a HUGE LIE. My friend is a chapter head of NORML. They have an upcoming candlelight vigil for terminal illness patients who were denied medicinal marijuana to ease their pain or increase appetite. This is at City Hall in Philadelphia. Their are doctors fined and incarcerated for proliferating medicinal marijuana "illegally" to such patients. Shame on our govt. For a country that prides itself on tolerance, this govt. hasn't taken one god damn step to listen to and/or rectify the falsehoods they so gleefully broadcast. Just saving face to win their next god damn election. Pathetic. Learn the facts people. Learn the facts.

honesty prevails again...

Mar 20 2006, 6:45 pm

So which is it guys? Did NORML simply pay for the poll, or did they perform it? I am getting conflicting views from two well educated assholes. Plus every government poll gives the same +/- percents to their polls in order to cover their asses. Your a fool if you think that American politics isnt run by honest people. Perhaps right now wouldnt be the best time to argue for the underlying truths the USA represents, but there are many congressmen and women who are very good people(even republicans, but dont let that get out i dont want to get philibustered by a mob of angry democrats who just had to except that they arent the majority) So just shut up. And who the fuck ever said Denver represents the states? I guess because its in, Canada, or something? Nevertheless, marijuana should be legal, not because it has medical properties, or some may think it takes them to a higher conscienciousness( which i must be missing out of for years now) but because it is a natural, out of the ground organism. Dont let the honesty hit you on the way out...

Revived

Mar 20 2006, 5:36 pm

Yes, Praise God for His goodness in making marijuana on earth, truly a tree of life. Soon an evil empire of pharmactical and enforcement of "controling" laws impose on marijuana users will fall to the ground, new sprout springs out of the former stump. The whole world wide will be changing dramatically and rise to the purpose of unity with one another in mild civilization through all races and cultures to strengthening an unified, universal and harmonized body to carry out its true deed what we all ought to do make the world a better place once for all, all for once peace toke in the name of God who created the tree of life and worship in truth and spirit, amen

retards

Mar 20 2006, 5:22 pm

To all the people saying that this poll does not represent american voters accurately, do you remember there was a ballot measure voted on in November in Denver? 54% of voters in Denver voted for legalizing possesion of an ounce of marijuana.

Kroninn

Mar 20 2006, 4:57 pm

HONESTY...Honestly man...Did you even read the first couple of lines. The Poll was done by NORML, not the government. We don't hate the government; it's the best in the world. We hate the "system" the way in which polititions are bought and frankly "HONESTY" does not play a part in modern government. If congress voted their consciences, we wouldn't have 25-30 million Americans smoking pot on a habitually, illegally. Read between the lines, don't focus on the face value, because that can and is often twisted and corrupt underneath.

Ruba Say & the Cosmic Ray

Mar 20 2006, 4:20 pm

When herb was criminalized, they lied and perjured to Congress therefore it was illegally made illegal. Members of Congress protested and are on record doing so. So that means marijuana is not illegal, right?

Honesty

Mar 20 2006, 4:05 pm

Its funny how all the potheads hate the government for giving misinformation, yet they are so quick to use government produced statistics to back their arguments.That doesnt make any sense. All these people are trying to justify this poll as being accurate and random by giving the same numbers that are also used to rate anti-marijuana polls. So try not to get to excited and get real...

legalize

Mar 20 2006, 4:01 pm

weed weed weed every body should try it

LadySmokerInMI

Mar 20 2006, 3:42 pm

You know, about the DARE stuff... I think I'm going to keep my kids home that week.

Kroninn

Mar 20 2006, 3:10 pm

ANON is all over the place...Just has different names. All DARE did was educate us kids about drugs and what to expect. Otherwise, we were less likely to try new drugs because of our ignorance towards their effects, but ofcourse I had a cop telling me what they did and how they were done. Those DARE people are fucked, they used to tell us that our parents did drugs, because they drink coffee.

MarijuanaMedic

Mar 20 2006, 2:06 pm

I have been certified by the Feds(NHTSA) as a police instructor in Field Sobriety Testing (FST). Jack O. (below) has it right; If you can pass an FST, there is no reason to make an arrest. Having used cannabis does not necessarily mean one is impaired. Just like having one drink does not make a drunk driver.

A number of studies indicate that cannabis use does not significantly impair driving ability. For safety, one should not smoke and drive (cigarettes cause a number of accidents).

Cops don't need a chemical test to make a lawful arrest for DUI or public intoxication. Remember, the Implied Consent law requires a chemical test AFTER arrest (when they already have probable cause). Therefore refusing the test does not result in the case being tossed, it just makes it a little harder to convict. However, the cops have to believe that, if the driver undergoes a chemical test, the results will prove that an arrest was warranted. Otherwise, the driver may use the chemical test as evidence of false arrest (in civil court).

When cops ask you to follow a moving finger with your eyes, they're looking for horizontal gaze nystagmus - a very accurate test for ALCOHOL.

If you pay taxes, you want me to have cannabis. Without cannabis I will go blind from glaucoma (other drugs don't work). If I go blind, I'll also go from Tax Payer to Tax Recipient. Meanwhile, people see me working, doing a good job, and, by-the-way, I just smoked a joint. People are starting to see normal people use cannabis, not just NORML people, while I still get a laugh when I think of all those who said I was crazy if I thought Prop. 215 would get on the ballot.

Time to go to one of my favorite pot clubs (The Good Fellows on Haight St).

Happy Trails.

SumGai

Mar 20 2006, 1:13 pm

More than 25 million Americans smoked pot in the last year. Just imagine if Law Enforcement managed to round all those people up and jail them. That's more than 5 times the amount of people currently being held in our State and Federal prisons right now, and they're already overcrowded.

The law is a joke and it only creates victims out of an otherwise victimless crime.

Be realistic. Legalize, tax, spend the money on drug education because DARE is a joke...

BaKeD in WI

Mar 20 2006, 10:58 am

LEGALIZE AND STOP THE LIES

scooba doo

Mar 20 2006, 10:47 am

Week 1 sales of gov't regulated marijuana $1 billion

The Final Word

Mar 20 2006, 10:43 am

Hey Skeptic is right down there when he says that the government and the people who affect it would be much more willing to LEGALIZE IT if there was an easy quick way to test it comperable to a breathalizer test. Am I behind and there already is such a device? (if you know it shout it)ps. SHU210S if you feel like whining about the magazine.. get a girlfriend

good poll

Mar 20 2006, 10:07 am

this poll is quite accurate..who's the dumbass who thought it was done by norml lol...It'd have been like 90% legalize 10% decriminalize if it was done by norml lol... here's an idea put the poll in hightimes mag and see lol... 1000 people is plenty... when they do the polls for presidents do you think they poll all 300 million? no not even close but those polls are also within a few percent of accuracy...

Shut Up....

Mar 20 2006, 9:47 am

Shut up DipShit!!!!

Go brush your tooth!

Davison

Mar 20 2006, 8:51 am

Haha, ya. The comments that kill me are the one's like "It won't happen, I've been waiting 30 years..."

You've just singled out the biggest problem with most pro-cannabis people - you just wait for someone else to magically make it happen. For whatever reason; to stoned, to politically "important", to "responsible" to be linked to a bunch or ragged denim hippiy rejects to actually make a stand and try and effect change in the law and the public perceptions instead of being a bandwagon supporter whenever there's a doobie being passed around.

Good luck

�HU210�

Mar 20 2006, 8:24 am

But Steve Kubby gets sent back to jail. HT your behind on this story.
Must be to busy sending out renewal noticies even though my scrip does'nt run out until Sept
This is how Playboy lost my business

rob

Mar 20 2006, 8:19 am

how is this a random poll? i expect that this poll was blogged on a bunch of pro pot sites and they all swarmed to vote that it should be legalized.

the ONE

Mar 20 2006, 8:12 am

Now only if our bull-headed government would just give it a chance they would see that WE are right. Do you want to stop the violence...greatly decrease the chance of our children starting on it at a young age...and see an overwhelming state of peace....then legalize and regulate. THEN and only THEN will you see the world change for the better.
PEACE and Jah Bless!!!

MORE THAN HALF SUPPORT LE

Mar 20 2006, 8:06 am

GALIZATIOn!

FOR SURE.

LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THE HERB IS.!

Soul Brother #1

Mar 20 2006, 4:09 am

Isn't this the same song they were singing in the 60's,70's,80's,90's and today?? Forty fuckin years and if you want to get high legally you need cancer or have to live in Alaska..
The song remains the same!!
I don't see a change happening in the next 40 either..

jack oblivian

Mar 20 2006, 2:47 am

what difference does it make if the cops can tell if someone is high? being high isn't illegal. If you are talking about DUI, if someone can pass a roadside sobriety test, then they can safely drive.

skeptic

Mar 20 2006, 2:20 am

until law enforcement has a machine that determines whether someone is currently intoxicated with marijuana and to what degree, marijuana will never be legalized.

give cops a weed breathalizor and then you'll be able to convince people that it can be properly regulated.

JRow

Mar 20 2006, 1:59 am

While 1,000 people may seem like only a handful, as long as it is random and representative of the population, it is extremely accurate, to within -+3%-5% probably. Basically this poll says that roughly half the country is on each side of the issue and generally speaking the young people and the baby boomers are most in favor of regulation/taxation.

Curious that the people around during marijuana's heyday in the 60's/early 70's (the people who experienced the closest thing the US has had to decriminalization/legalization as well as the introduction of the war on drugs) and the young people (most exposed to its contemporary effects and consequences) are the ones that think it ought to be legal.

liberaltrucker

Mar 20 2006, 1:35 am

I've been waiting 30 years. Won't happen in my lifetime.
Maybe in my great-grand childen's.

stats nerd

Mar 20 2006, 1:27 am

actually the size of the study doesn't matter, as long as it was done randomly and was representative of the population.

Keep Dreaming

Mar 20 2006, 1:04 am

Wont Happen!

1StepAhead

Mar 20 2006, 1:00 am

CANNABIS has nothing to fear from the TRUTH.What have you done fore CANNABIS FREEDOM today???? Jah one/love

The Truth

Mar 19 2006, 11:25 pm

The lies from the government and the harm from the pharmaceutical companies must stop. Legalize, prosper, a soon future for America I hope.

Fareignheight 420

Mar 19 2006, 9:43 pm

i dream of the day when I can go to a store and buy my Chronic and my munchies in the same trip. One day....

Toke 'N' Tx

Mar 19 2006, 8:43 pm

yes i would like 2 philli titans. oh and a pack of chronic splifs.

legalize it!

someone

Mar 19 2006, 8:25 pm

it starts with the truth

lol

Mar 19 2006, 8:00 pm

half of americans and they surveyed a little over a 1,000 people, who CAN"T vote yet. BRILLIANT

fdsaaf

Mar 19 2006, 7:47 pm

I want to GROW my own, for I trust no company. I mean, come on, look at how much shit is in ciggerettes?!?!?

Tax me

Mar 19 2006, 7:31 pm

I want a variety of fresh cannabis from the store. PLEASE TAX ME.

�HU210�

Mar 19 2006, 6:59 pm

A careful reading of the story reveals that Zogby conducted the poll, not NORML. NORML commissioned (paid for) the poll. This is how even the poltico's conduct thier polls to avoid the appearance of bias or slanting of the results

honesty below the belt

Mar 19 2006, 5:59 pm

As I sit and listen to Postal Service and read this article I can't help but feel happy and sad. First and foremost, it is nice to hear that people feel the way that they have expressed. But since this poll was done by NORML and other pro-marijuana groups, it really doesnt matter. Do you think that politicians or just reguler people are going to care about any poll given by an obviously biased group? Of course not. And only 1000 people? That surely can not be an accurate representation of America. So this was all a waste of time..

BaKeD in WI

Mar 19 2006, 5:55 pm

I've Said It Before...

And I'll Say It Again,

LEGALIZE AND STOP THE LIES!