Pennsylvanians don’t want marijuana legalized, but they favor letting adults use it for medical purposes, that’s according to the latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll.
Poll Results
The poll found that 55 percent of respondents said no to making marijuana legal, but that is down from a 2010 study, where 60 percent said no and a 2006 study where 72 percent said no.
Of those polled, 36 said yes, they support legalizing marijuana, which is up from 33 percent in 2010 and 22 percent in 2006.
When it comes to using marijuana for medical purposes, as recommended by a doctor, 51 percent of those polled strongly favored it, and 31 percent somewhat favored it. On the other side, 13 percent strongly opposed and 3 percent somewhat opposed. The results were not very different from the 2010 and 2006 results.
The Franklin & Marshall College Poll interviewed 622 Pennsylvania voters between January 29 and February 3. The margin of error is reported as plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
What About Lawmakers?
State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) released a statement saying he will introduce a bill this session to legalize marijuana.
“In addition to raising millions of dollars per year from tax revenue, Pennsylvania would save more than $325 million per year by legalizing marijuana. The most conservative estimates say the revenue generated by taxing the sales of marijuana would amount to at least $24 million per year. Legalizing marijuana and taxing its sale could provide a multi-million dollar reoccurring revenue source that our state could tap into for years to come,” Leach said in a release.
Leach said under his bill, marijuana would be treated and regulated similar to alcohol.
What Do You Think?
Do you think marijuana should be legalized? What about for medical purposes? Share your opinions in the comments area below.
Due to marijuana prohibition, self-righteous lawmakers have caused the deaths of countless people involved on all sides of the "war", including law enforcement and bystanders, they have wasted 100's of billions of our dollars, invaded our civil liberties, helped fuel tremendous multinational criminal networks, and have generated a public mistrust and disdain for our legal system. Don't be fooled, the overwhelming majority of problems associated with marijuana are a result of it's prohibition, just as it was with alcohol prohibition. Marijuana prohibition is truly a case of the "cure" being worse than the "disease". Marijuana must be legalized, taxed and regulated similar to alcohol before more damage is done. Let's end marijuana prohibition now.
btw, here are some famous pot smokers: Sir Richard Branson (his net worth is far greater than Trump's) Bill Gates Steve Jobs Barack Obama Tim Lincecum Michael Phelps Carl Sagan Rick Steves Woody Harrelson Ted Turner Montel Williams Arnold Schwarzenegger Stephen King Michael Bloomberg Joan Rivers
"Generally speaking, two sources of error concern researchers most. Non-response bias is created when selected participants either choose not to participate in the survey or are unavailable for interviewing. Response errors are the product of the question and answer process. Surveys that rely on self reported behaviors and attitudes are susceptible to biases related to the way respondents process and respond to survey questions." I would like to add that this college is based in Lancaster, PA and surveys were conducted in person by interview. For one, people are less likely to admit in person support of something that many still consider taboo. Also, it does not mention where these people were from. I assume they are mostly from the local rural area which does not represent fair sample of the PA public. Conduct the same poll in Philadelphia and I bet you will find the majority support legalization.
It is time to put an end to these senseless laws. Legalize and regulate it like alcohol. If enough states legalize we can also force the federal government to change their stance. Write your public officials and urge them to implement a sensible marijuana policy. For more info visit: MPP - The Marijuana Policy Project - http://www.mpp.org/ NORML - National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws - http://norml.org/ LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - "Cops say legalize" - http://www.leap.cc/ Colorado's successful "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol" campaign site - http://www.regulatemarijuana.org/
First of all, any controlled substance would be DECRIMINALIZED, not legalized. Just as with alcohol, as long as you within the legal boundaries of acceptable use, it is fine. For example you have to be a certain age, can only buy it certain places, and can't be operating a vehicle. If a doctor performed surgery or an airline pilot flew a plane while drunk, they would be fired. It would be no different with any decriminalized drugs. Loss of productivity? Well that is just a hoot, I can guarantee you plenty of successful, responsible people go their jobs every day and do excellent work, then come home and use marijuana. If you take a sample of people you know personally, who you believe are upstanding people, one of them smokes pot. Someone else already posted a list, but there are many successful millionaires and billionaires who have smoke or continue to smoke marijuana daily. Prohibition has already been shown to be an abject failure in this country, and after 50+ years, so has the War on Drugs. End it now!
As for giving a child MORE drugs have no fear, our phama industry is way ahead of you there! Ritalin for every boy who wants to play!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor Therefore, it is God's will for us to use cannabis! Thank for agreeing with the push for decriminalization, it's good to know that you have seen God's light. Truly he is mighty in his wisdom.
This comes down to an ancient tradition long upheld, but only recently lost. We see it every 4 years in the Olympics where it sits as a symbol, but has greater meaning. That symbol is the Passing of the Torch. It's more than the Light of Reason. It's the passing of the Old world to the New, to the Young to be build anew. The old rules need be updated for the modern day, let the Light of Science guide the way. Nothing comes for free, Cannabis will have some health detractions, but so does bacon and I don't want a politician legislating my rights away for my protection. He can mind his own business and I, mine. I'm old enough to see with my own eyes and think with my own mind. Their fear mongering is just whispers of the boogeyman, it only scares children.
Sue- I appreciate and respect your experiences and thoughts. Perhaps you will look into it just a little bit more, ton of literature in the true medical guides. I worked with autism about 18 years ago in the stone ages of treating it, for a pioneering firm that is now sought out, it is unfortunately a program that is so costly it's only a few scholarships per full pay. This is an area all political parties need to unite behind - the study and treatment of autism. If Cana meds help, then why prevent a life from 'blossoming out', a term used by many child autistic oriented profs.
Blessings Michaellr