Marijuana Legalization More Popular Than Obama or Romney in Colorado

[kpete]

Marijuana Legalization More Popular Than Obama or Romney in Colorado
By: Jon Walker Monday October 15, 2012 8:27 am


Amendment 64, which would legalize marijuana and regulate it like alcohol in Colorado, continues to hold a narrow lead. The most recent SurveyUSA poll for the Denver Post found that 48 percent plan to vote for the initiative while 43 percent plan to vote against it.

As expected, the polling has tightened up as we get close to election day. The previous SurveyUSA/Denver Post poll from September found Amendment 64 leading 51 percent yes to 40 percent no.

Interestingly, this is the second recent poll of Colorado that found more voters are currently planning to support marijuana legalization than support either of the major presidential candidates. This same SurveyUSA poll of the presidential race in Colorado has Mitt Romney at 46 percent, President Obama at 45 percent, and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson at 2 percent.

The University of Denver poll from last week also found that Amendment 64 is more popular than either major party candidate. It found 50 percent of likely voters planning to back the marijuana legalization initiative. By comparison, the poll found only 47 percent were planning to vote for Obama and 43 percent for Romney.

http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2012/10/15/marijuana-legalization-more-popular-than-obama-or-romney-in-colorado/

[porphyrian]

2. Whatever gets people voting, I guess. n/t

[Drale]

3. While I agree the it should be legalized, for various reasons

Far to many people's only political issue is Marijuana Legalization. They know more facts about "weed" than how a bill is passed or how the president is elected. Single issue voters are one of the reasons our country is so fucked up right now.

[porphyrian]

4. They don't even teach civics in Florida public schools any more.

When education is the first thing cut from any Congressional budget (along with health care) and intellectualism is looked upon with disdain by the majority of the population, what do you expect?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

7. Its not a petty issue.

With so many people's lives being ruined and prison overcrowding I can honestly say its one of the more important issues to me, its a civil right issue.

[Drale]

9. Did I say it was a petty issue?

No I did not I said there are far to many people, whose only political issue is legalization and the only reason they want it legalized is so they can smoke in public. Really read the entire post before you reply.

[Comrade Grumpy]

10. If we legalized it, maybe those people who are annoying you would quiet down.

Seriously, I hear what you're saying. There are people who only come to politics because of their liking for weed and dislike of being persecuted for it. I see those folks as people who are becoming engaged and can be brought along. And their minimal engagement on the pot issue is a lot more than we see out of about half the population.

I don't know too many people, though, whose platform is "I want to smoke pot in public."

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. Chill.

Maybe if you partook you wouldn't be so high strung and hypersensitive about someone offering up an alternative viewpoint to yours.


Would you care to give me a 1-5 ranking of the acceptable issues and platforms people should be voting on?

[Drale]

15. I didn't reply to the alternative view point

I replied to the poster saying that I said its a "petty issue" which I did not say anywhere. And no I will not "partake". If some people like to smoke weed thats their business, I have no desire to get high and waist my time laughing at nothing.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

23. Haha.

I love the 1950's view on pot use. Yes its all about getting high and laughing at nothing. Its not like people who smoke pot do anything positive or creative or beneficial or productive. Just admit it, you have a general disdain for people who use marijuana.

[Drale]

24. How about you and you sub 300 posts not judge anyone?

For your information, my girlfriend has major back problems and pot is something that has helped her. You know nothing about me or what I believe so how about you stop judging right now or your not going to last very long on DU.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

25. Are you really using my post count as an issue?

You started the attack by going after "single issue voters" and talking down to people who might have a different opinion than you, and then saying marijuana use is a "waste of time" and reiterating puritan stereotypes. I'm glad your girlfriend uses it for her back problems, that's great. Just know that there are lots of other people who use it to help them also. They aren't just sitting home eating cheetos "laughing at nothing". I'm not interested in arguing with anyone but you shouldn't paint with a broad brush. Some of those "single issue voters" may be more affected by one issue than another, if that gets them to vote so be it. The war on drugs is a civil rights issue, plain and simple.



BTW "sub" implies that I have less than 300 posts, I have 376 which wouldn't be "sub". Not that it matters.

[Romulox]

27. "This is my last post on this topic" Drale 1:44 PM. Above post: 2:11 PM.

1/10.

[Tsiyu]

12. Who are these people?

I haven't met any, not on DU, not in real life.

I have met single issue voters re: abortion, gay marriage, lower taxes for the wealthy.

Have never met a single legalize cannabis single issue voter.

But if you say they are to blame for our fucked up country, why I shall go clutch some pearls and wail and gnash my teeth right this very moment.

[Drale]

14. You wouldn't find them on DU since DU is a political site

They are called pot heads and they are all over the place, you just haven't looked. I meant single issue voters are whats fucking out country up not just legalize it single issue voters ALL single issue voters.

[Tsiyu]

16. Really? All over the place?

Well, I'll say this for them - at least they care enough to vote, wherever they may be hiding.

[Romulox]

13. Oh well. I guess we should just continue incarcerating a bigger chunk of our population than any

other country on earth.

That will teach those "single issue voters" about why this country is so fucked up right now!

[Drale]

17. This is my last post on this topic

because apparently no one can understand my original post. Single issue voters are stupid and care for nothing but one issue that effects them. Like I said I believe it should be legalized BUT single issue voters are one of the reasons the tea party came about, the single issue being that we are being "over taxed". People need to known what they are really voting for. Many people vote for Ron Paul because he favors legalization and don't know anything about what he really stands for.

[Romulox]

19. As if Drug Warriors aren't THEMSELVES "single issue voters"! nt

[Bluenorthwest]

26. That's pretty funny stuff, considering the Marijuana reform movement has passed

Medical Marijuana laws in 17 States and DC. How did they do that if they don't know how to pass a bill? Tell me this, can you name ANY other political movement that has passed as many bills for their issue in the last 10 years? Uh huh.
Just how do you think people who don't know how a bill is passed passed many bills, in so many States, so quickly while utterly upending national opinion on the issue?

[DevonRex]

5. The head of the Chamber of Commerce gave the stupidest

reason not to legalize it last night on the news. She said it would make it hard to get new businesses to locate here. She said we want them to know we have a vibrant workforce and that legalization would undermine that impression.

I laughed. Like, does she have the slightest idea what CO is about? We are different and proud of it. We are in shape. We are educated. We play hard. We work inspired and hard. Then we enjoy this place we live in, in whatever form that takes. Most don't overdo it except for the kids with alcohol. That's a big problem here. Enough. An alternative ain't a bad thing.

Eighty years ago we didnt vote for prohibition. This time we might thumb our noses at them on marijuana.

Chamber of Commerce lady can STFU. And I don't smoke the stuff.

[pokerfan]

6. It's polling at 57% here in Washington State

It will be interesting to see how the feds respond as it will remain illegal at the federal level.

"What I’m not going to be doing is using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on (marijuana) simply because I want folks to be investigating violent crimes and potential terrorism. We’ve got a lot of things for our law enforcement officers to deal with." -Obama, 2008

[musiclawyer]

18. Feds won't do anything

There is to much law and science on the side of the states. WA would probably welcome a high profile court trial. POTUS won't dioe on that hill. Romeny would fight but he would lose.

[pokerfan]

32. Good to hear

but still...

On a Monday teleconference call, former Drug Enforcement Agency administrators and directors of the Office of National Drug Control Policy voiced a strong reminder to the U.S. Department of Justice that even if voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington pass ballot measures to legalize marijuana use for adults and tax its sale, the legalization of marijuana still violates federal law and the passage of these measures could trigger a "Constitutional showdown."

The goal of the call was clearly to put more pressure on Attorney General Eric Holder to make a public statement in opposition to these measures. With less than 30 days before Election Day, the DOJ has yet to announce its enforcement intentions regarding the ballot measures that, if passed, could end marijuana prohibition in each state.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/dea-drug-czars-states-leg_n_1967363.html

[marlakay]

21. I live mid state and they closed medical place

In Wenatchee actually was surprised when we found it. My husband has a card.

So we have to go 2 1/2 hours to find any...haven't done it though because they want so much paperwork (which means we have to pay out of pocket to special doctors since local ones admit he needs it but won't write prescription out of fear...we are in small town and though it's a party town for tourists it is run very conservatively) and talk to you on the phone like you are going to turn them in its not worth it.

I just won't say where he gets it and once he has it it is legal.

I wonder to what will happen if it passes. The DEA spends tons of money every fall with helicopters over our area...

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. We'll see if Gary Johnson can make hay with this.

He's campaigning hard in Colorado and supports legalization.

It would be significant if he got over 5%, but I don't see that happening, according to the polls.

[SniperG]

20. and then...

The problem in colorado is that "medical" marijuana is legal and available on every corner...without any safety nets in place. There is no recourse for those operating vehicles under the influence, anyone with 200.00 can get a prescription for it, etc. I know many colorado residents who feel that it's kind of like being a little bit pregnant. Go ahead and legalize it, tax it, and put some laws into place to protect the general public...and then MOVE ON.

[Romulox]

22. Why is any of that a "problem"? What must the general public be protected from?

Doesn't sound like you even know what you're afraid of, but I'm willing to be surprised!

[Comrade Grumpy]

29. What's the "problem?"

Medical marijuana is available through retail outlets that are regulated and pay taxes.

You have to have a qualifying medical condition, which in Colorado includes chronic pain, I believe.

I have no idea what you mean about "no safety nets."

Colorado already has impaired driving laws. An effort to set a per se DUID limit, which is not basd on good science, has failed three times in the legislature.

But yes, let's just go ahead and legalize it. Period.

[Panasonic]

30. Uh. Your premise is incorrect.

In fact, I'm due for a renewal next month, and plan to see a doctor for $45, and renew my card for $35, a total of $80 to the State to keep myself legal until Colorado do away with it, then I plan to write it off as medical expense.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. Very appealing. This week, due to a physician moving during the slow process

I will top 600 dollars in expenses for my card in Oregon, including $250 in fees to the State itself....

[Uncle Joe]

28. Kicked and recommended for the great state of Colorado.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.