(WASHINGTON D.C.) – A new Zogby poll commissioned by the conservative-leaning O’Leary Report has found 52 percent voter support for treating marijuana as a legal, taxed, regulated substance.

The survey, published as a full-page ad in today’s issue of the political newspaper The Hill, polled a sample of 3,937 voters weighted to match the 2008 presidential outcome — 54 percent Obama voters and 46 percent McCain supporters.

Voters were asked: “Scarce law enforcement and prison resources, a desire to neutralize drug cartels and the need for new sources of revenue have resurrected the topic of legalizing marijuana. Proponents say it makes sense to tax and regulate the drug while opponents say that legalization would lead marijuana users to use other illegal drugs. Would you favor or oppose the government’s effort to legalize marijuana?”

The results showed a decisive majority of 52 percent in favor with 37 percent opposed and 11 percent not sure — slightly higher than the 46 percent support reported in an ABC News/Washington Post poll released at the end of April.

In California, the respected Field poll recently found 56 percent support for making marijuana a taxed, regulated product that is legal for adults.

This marks the first time in nationwide polling that I’ve seen majority support for legalization.  The California Field Poll recently pegged support at 56% in that state and next thing you know, Gov. Schwarzenegger is suggesting it’s time for an open debate about legalization.  The wall is crumbling and as politicians looking to win re-election begin to realize that Reefer Madness is a deadly electoral disease, we will see more calling for new thinking on the marijuana issue.

San Francisco, CA: A majority of west coast voters support regulating the sale of marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, according to national poll of 1,053 likely voters by Zogby International and commissioned by California NORML and Oaksterdam University.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents residing on the west coast agree that cannabis should be “taxed and legally regulated like alcohol and cigarettes.” Only thirty-six percent of west coast respondents oppose regulating the sale of marijuana for adults.

Nationally, support for taxing and regulating cannabis stands at 44 percent. Among likely voters on the east coast, 48 percent endorse legalizing marijuana. Respondents’ support fell to approximately 37 percent in the southern and central regions of the United States.

Earlier this month, a national CBS/New York Times poll reported that 41 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana – up from just 27 percent in 1979.

Responding to the latest Zogby poll, NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said, “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, and appears to have achieved majority support on the west coast – where many voters are already familiar with the state-licensed use and, in some cases, sale of medical cannabis.”

He added, “As voters and legislators continue to look for alternative ways to raise tax revenue for public services and reduce law enforcement costs in this troubled economy, we expect the public’s support for taxing and regulating cannabis to continue to grow — not just on the west coast, but nationwide.”

Nationally, younger voters age 18 to 29 are most likely (55 percent) to support regulating pot. Older voters age 50 to 64 are nearly evenly divided (48 percent) in their support for legalization.

The poll found that a majority of registered Democrat voters (53 percent) back taxing cannabis, versus only 32 percent of Republicans.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Dale Gieringer, California NORML Coordinator, at (415) 563-5858.

Download the NORML Daily Audio Stash for 2009-02-04

Download audio file (NORML_Daily_AudioStash_2009-02-04.mp3)

Sorry again for the late posting.  Lots of running around to do today and on top of all that, I got sacked from my XM Satellite talk radio show.  It’s the universe’s way of telling me that 100% of my focus needs to be on ending adult marijuana prohibition.  For nearly two years I have been missing our Oregon NORML Cardholders Meetings and it will be exhilarating to return.

Beginning this Sunday, I will be shifting my production schedule to Sunday through Thursday so I can bring you Stash fresh and ontime at 4:20 Pacific each day Monday through Friday.  But that does mean if some news breaks after noon, I won’t be able to cover it until the next podcast.  It’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make, because as a professional pothead, it’s better if I’m not constantly late, ya dig?  ;-{)>

Today’s Stash features the ladies of “The View” discussing Michael Phelps, new polling from Zogby showing almost 3 out of four Americans opposing current DEA raids, and new arrest data from Denver.  Dr. Mitch Earleywine is here to talk about the Phelps story and some research on cannabis and bipolar disorder.  Finally, NORML Board Member George Rohrbacher presents his heart-wrenching essay, “Jonathan Magbie: Patron Saint of Unicorns”.

(CBS) So far, there hasn’t been much negative reaction to the photo showing Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps smoking what appeared to be marijuana. 

A few years ago, it might have ruined his career, but so far it hasn’t — perhaps a sign of changing attitudes.

The seeming lack of outrage… may reflect America’s changing attitudes towards marijuana – an estimated $30 billion dollar industry in the United States alone.

While a majority of Americans still oppose the legalization of marijuana use, a new CBS News poll shows a big swing in opinion in recent years.

Twenty-seven percent supported legalization in 1979; 41 percent support it today.

Understand that when you get “41% support legalization”, that’s over 2 out of 5 people when asked, “Should marijuana be legalized” who will say “yes.”  That’s without any explanation of how, where, when, or for whom it will be legalized, so that includes the spectrum from “fine-only possession, jail for sales, cultivation, and trafficking” to “pre-rolled joints at the convenience store”.

When you change the question to actually define what you mean by “legalization”, the numbers rise.  In a 2001 Zogby poll, ten weeks after 9/11, we found:

In light of the tragic events of Sept. 11th and the increased attention to the threat of terrorism, do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose arresting and jailing nonviolent marijuana smokers?

Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of federal law enforcement agencies to close patient cooperatives in California and other states where medical marijuana is legal under state law?

Then in 2002, CNN/TIME Magazine commissioned a poll to look at marijuana issues:

Do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana?

Do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana? What about in small amounts, for example three ounces or less? Do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana in small amounts?

Assuming marijuana is not legalized, do you think people arrested for possession of small amounts of mairjuana should be put in jail, or just have to pay a fine but without serving any jail time?

Do you think adults should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it or do you think that marijuana shouldremain illegal even for medical purposes?

When you start throwing in the idea of controlling cannabis sales through taxation and regulation like liquor stores, the legalization idea gets better support.  Zogby asked in 2003 and in 2006:

Do you support amending federal law to let states legally regulate and tax marijuana the way they do liquor and gambling?

In 2003, nationwide support for tax & regulate was only 41%, by 2006 it had risen five points to 46%. On the coasts, majorities favor taxing and regulating marijuana similar to hard liquor (53% East Coast, 55% West Coast).

Finally, when we look at medical use of marijuana, state by state, we find no state below 60% in their support for medical marijuana:

So, is Michael Phelps “getting off easy” because he is a superstar athlete or because most Americans don’t consider marijuana use to be taboo and detrimental anymore?

Zogby International
Three in four likely voters (76%) believe the U.S. war on drugs is failing, a sentiment that cuts across the political spectrum – including the vast majority of Democrats (86%), political independents (81%), and most Republicans (61%). There is also a strong belief that the anti-drug effort is failing among those who intend to vote for Barack Obama (89%) for president, as well as most supporters of John McCain (61%).

When asked what they believe is the single best way to combat international drug trafficking and illicit use, 27% of likely voters said legalizing some drugs would be the best approach — 34% of Obama supporters and 20% of McCain backers agreed.

One in four likely voters (25%) believe stopping the drugs at the border is the best tactic to battle drugs — 39% of McCain supporters, but just 12% of Obama backers agree.

Overall, 19% of likely voters said reducing demand through treatment and education should be the top focus of the war on drugs.

13% believe that the best way to fight the war on drugs is to prevent production of narcotics in the country of origin.

89% of the people who will vote for Barack Obama – almost 9 in 10! – believe the War on (Certain American Citizens Using Non-Pharmaceutical, Non-Alcoholic, Tobacco-Free) Drugs is a failure.  And yet, when I was in Denver for the Democratic convention, not ONE panel, speech, flier, talking point, or memo even mentioned anything about our failed drug policies.

One third of those Obama supporters back the idea of legalizing some drugs, a number I believe would be much higher if it were asked as, “do you support the taxation and regulation of cannabis for adults so more effort may be redirected toward controlling hard drugs?”

It’s clear the people know the Drug War is lost, but it’s not so clear what alternative should replace it.  Here is an opportunity for a true leader who chants the “change” mantra to put his money where his mouth is.  The support is there for a leader to change the vision of our punitive drug policies.  

If only some of those 89% had an “Inc.” or a “Corp.” behind their names, I’d have more faith that a true leader will actually pick up on the issue.  76% of us know the Drug War has failed, but 100% of the corporations that depend on the Drug War for their livelihood (private prisons, drug rehabs, pharmaceutical companies, breweries, and industries that couldn’t compete with legal hemp, for example) think the Drug War is going just fine… and they have lobbyists and give big campaign donations.