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Support for marijuana legalization has edged up recently and is now tied with the opposition, according to a CBS poll released Friday – the first time since that survey started keeping track of the issue.
Forty-seven percent support legalization, and forty-seven percent oppose it, according to a CBS News poll. Support for legalizing pot crept up slightly from 45 percent in September, the poll found.
Partisan divides on the issue remain sharp: Two-thirds of Republicans oppose legalization, while 51 percent of Democrats support it. Legalization support is actually highest among independents at 55 percent.
On election day, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for recreational marijuana use. Both states are setting up regulated markets for the drug. Marijuana usage remains illegal under federal law, and President Barack Obama administration is still formulating a response to the recent statewide decisions. Fifty-nine percent of Americans think decisions on marijuana laws should be left to the states, with only 34 percent giving final call to the federal government.
Support for medical marijuana is far less controversial at 83 percent, with even 76 percent of Republicans backing its usage. But Americans have their doubts about the effectiveness of medical marijuana laws. Only 29 percent believe most marijuana being dispensed through state-authorized stores is being used to treat serious medical issues. Fifty-three percent believe most is being used for other purposes.
The poll of 1,100 adults was conducted from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
On Thursday, National Drug Control Policy director Gil Kerlikowske said he believes that federal authorities will still enforce national marijuana laws.
"There has been nothing that I have seen or heard from the Department of Justice that says 'Look we're not going to continue to enforce federal law,' " Kerlikowske told American Public Media. "And we're going to continue to take a hard look at those people who are involved in making money on essentially a violation of federal law."
But at a forum hosted by Foreign Policy Magazine on Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was "not convinced" legalization would end drug conflict in South America and labeled federal enforcement "an ongoing debate" during a
"This is an ongoing debate," Clinton said. "We are formulating our own response to the votes of two of our states as you know – what that means for the federal system, the federal laws and law enforcement."
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: politico.com
Author: Kevin Robillard
Contact: About Us - POLITICO.com
Website: Pot legalization support hits record high, poll shows - Kevin Robillard - POLITICO.com
Forty-seven percent support legalization, and forty-seven percent oppose it, according to a CBS News poll. Support for legalizing pot crept up slightly from 45 percent in September, the poll found.
Partisan divides on the issue remain sharp: Two-thirds of Republicans oppose legalization, while 51 percent of Democrats support it. Legalization support is actually highest among independents at 55 percent.
On election day, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for recreational marijuana use. Both states are setting up regulated markets for the drug. Marijuana usage remains illegal under federal law, and President Barack Obama administration is still formulating a response to the recent statewide decisions. Fifty-nine percent of Americans think decisions on marijuana laws should be left to the states, with only 34 percent giving final call to the federal government.
Support for medical marijuana is far less controversial at 83 percent, with even 76 percent of Republicans backing its usage. But Americans have their doubts about the effectiveness of medical marijuana laws. Only 29 percent believe most marijuana being dispensed through state-authorized stores is being used to treat serious medical issues. Fifty-three percent believe most is being used for other purposes.
The poll of 1,100 adults was conducted from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
On Thursday, National Drug Control Policy director Gil Kerlikowske said he believes that federal authorities will still enforce national marijuana laws.
"There has been nothing that I have seen or heard from the Department of Justice that says 'Look we're not going to continue to enforce federal law,' " Kerlikowske told American Public Media. "And we're going to continue to take a hard look at those people who are involved in making money on essentially a violation of federal law."
But at a forum hosted by Foreign Policy Magazine on Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was "not convinced" legalization would end drug conflict in South America and labeled federal enforcement "an ongoing debate" during a
"This is an ongoing debate," Clinton said. "We are formulating our own response to the votes of two of our states as you know – what that means for the federal system, the federal laws and law enforcement."
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: politico.com
Author: Kevin Robillard
Contact: About Us - POLITICO.com
Website: Pot legalization support hits record high, poll shows - Kevin Robillard - POLITICO.com
