Poll Shows CA Voters Split Over Measure to Legalize Pot
A new poll shows that CA voters are split over whether to legalize pot.
The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed voters and found that 49% think marijuana use should be made legal, 48% do not and 3% do not know, Los Angeles Times reports.
An initiative to legalize pot is headed for the November ballot. Democrats and independents back legalization, but Republicans heavily oppose it.
As previously discussed, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would allow cities and counties to adopt their own laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold, and the localities could impose taxes on any aspect of marijuana production and sales. It also would be legal for adults over 21 years old to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and to grow it in a 25-square-foot area for personal use.
So far, voters are split in Los Angeles County and the Central Valley.
The Tax Cannabis 2010 campaign also released a recent poll that found a similar amount of support for the measure among registered CA voters, but a much higher percentage saying they were undecided.
Other groups such as pot growers around California are concerned about the economic backlash that comes along with legalizing marijuana.
They say it is a simple case of supply and demand.
If there are more people growing and selling marijuana, then the price of the product would decline with the diminishing demand.
As previously discussed, if passed, the initiative would put the state in conflict with federal law. The Obama Administration last year announced it would not prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries that adhere to California's laws, but is opposed to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Support for legalizing marijuana remains high in the Bay Area and low in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.
The legalization of marijuana on a state level will be a matter for voters to weigh in November.
- Move to Legalize Marijuana Headed to California Ballot (FindLaw's Blotter)
- Legalizing Marijuana Raises Concerns for Pot Growers (FindLaw's Blotter)
- The Legalization of Marijuana to Be on California Ballot? (FindLaw's Blotter)