Majority Of Americans Want Pot Legalized: Zogby Poll

A majority of Americans, in a poll released Wednesday, say it "makes sense to tax and regulate" marijuana. The Zogby poll, commissioned by the conservative-leaning O'Leary Report, surveyed 3,937 voters and found 52 percent in favor of legalization. Only 37 percent opposed.

A previous ABC News/Washington Post poll found 46 percent in support. In California, a Field Poll found 56 percent backing legalization.

Responding to the poll at a press conference Tuesday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an open debate on legalization.

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?"

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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Comments

[winstonian22]

I totally agree with this. If we got back all the money we wasted looking for weed, charging and imprisoning those who have weed, and preventing the smuggling of weed...and then coupled that with the unbelievable amount of tax revenue you could get from weed, that in itself might balance the federal budget!!

[j-rich]

Why on earth are you still a republican Mr. Schwarzenegger? Come over to the side of the Jedi! Leave the dark side and become a democrat! We will welcome you with open arms, big guy. ^_^

PLEASE LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!

[GayGrandpa]

WHY DON'T THEY PUT GAY MARRIAGE AND LEGALIZING POT IN THE SAME BILL? That ought to do it!

[Coinyer101]

sorry granpa. the talibangelicals are still in charge of the power elite.

[PUAAN]

"talibangelicals"! Chortle! Hadn't heard that one yet!

[Ron1951]

Even the special report on CNBC leads one to think that we need to legalize marijuana and tax it. Prohibition does not work any better than most of today's republican policy ideas.

[lvdragonlady]

About time.
This should have been done 40 years ago.

[PUAAN]

That's about how long i've been waiting. If anyone had told me, when I first toked in 1973, that it would still be illegal in 2009, I would have roflol'ed.

[spiderbucket]

Let's do this. If we don't get it done soon - it will never happen.

[Coinyer101]

ok. i'm in.

[roobz]

To say it will lead to the use of other drugs is an absurd anti-legalization argument! The way it is now, who sells marijuana? Drug Dealers! Most drug dealers that aren't in one business..­.the are diversified and deal in many illegal drugs. That is why marijuana can currently be considered a gateway drug. Not to mention, marijuana is safer, healthier, and really a good stress reliever. I should note, I do not smoke any more because I have a family and don't want anything illegal around them. But, for me, I would rather marijuana be introduced to them responsibly just as alcohol should be. The difference is that the beer and liquor will lead to more issues than smoking a little pot ever would as inhibitions and reasoning are severely impaired by alcohol. Pot just relaxes you and if anything increases your inhibitions. We need to wake up.... these percentages should be much higher but propaganda still sticks with older generations (ie reefer madness).

[jsgaetano]

Get the drug offenders out of prison. We need to make room for all the conservative fraudsters.

[humanistatheist]

That's good. I'd like to see that happen. Cheers!

[greyhound2]

Exactly. About 60% of the prison inmates in the US are there on drug charges. The US has about 5.7 million people locked up in jail, the largest population in the world and of all time. Releasing those convicted of non-violent and victim-less crimes would make plenty of room for the real criminals on Wall Street and Washington, DC.

[Daniel Duffield]

it's not just conservati­ves/republ­icans, the democrats are just as bought and paid for.

(this coming from a libertarian)

[waterbum86]

That question is terrible. It is so leading in that it begins by stating only the reasons why pot should be legalized and then asks if it is a good idea, which is no wonder why it is so much different than ABC's poll. While it seems the country is certainly moving in that direction in recent years, I don't think Zogby's poll is worth much with such a poor, leading question.

[Marshall]

I have to agree, that was a leading question. But still, It's about time we legalized marijuana! It is no more of a "gateway drug" than wine is to whisky.

[OkinKun]

No it's not, that question is actually a rather well phrased polling question, considering the format by which the government polls people on this same issue. Now THAT is misleading.

In this case, the question CLEARLY states BOTH sides/opinions, regardless of the order they appear. Rarely does the government's questioner's do that. (plus, most people aren't honest with the government on those types of questions.­)

[PUAAN]

According to the article, the poll was commissioned "by the conservati­ve-leaning O'Leary Report". Presumably, the people who commission the poll think up the question. The pollster (Zogby) just asks it.

[eXcommunicate]

Where's the link to the poll? Cite your sources HuffPo!

[Coinyer101]

go to zogby's site, dillweed.

[PUAAN]

Can't use the google yourself, hmm?

[amadorjon]

yea it's ok to be legal if we can tax the s@#$ out of it?

you know I want Marijauna to be legal, I want to smoke the heck out of some legal marijauna, I just don't trust any sort of government "regulation" or "taxation"

I don't want to replace the drug cartel with the biggest crimal organaztion of the all, the government!

[TheBlackCat]

I'm a pot smoker, and I have NO PROBLEM taxing vice. Vice is a luxury. Luxuries are not a right we are entitled to. It's the best thing TO tax. When I hear people say "oh, when you raise cigarette taxes, it hurts poor smokers more" I always wonder why are you spending money on cigarettes in the first place when you're poor? When I was flat ass broke right out of college for a couple years, I wasn't dropping money on booze, weed, or any other kind of vice.

My best friend growing up had two parents who were both pack a day chain smokers, at least, and drank regularly (though I wouldn't call them alcoholics). She was always going without things, and of course college was out of the question. She was extremely aware of the fact that if her parents didn't spend every spare dime on cigarettes and booze, she'd have had a completely different life.

[j.gold]

"why are you spending money on cigarettes in the first place when you're poor?" It's called addiction!

I think they should tax the hell out of cigarettes anyway.

[finishcurve]

My Grandmother had big, beautiful poppies in her garden. I remember the day she was told they were illegal. "Well, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! If you don't want to grow them, then don't grow them. But don't tell me what to do".

She died in 1982 and I've missed her, her flowers and her commonsense ever since.

[stargazer13]

she sounded like a wise woman bless her and you

[SamKnause]

Until all of our elected government officials are off the list of lobbyist, that have bought their votes against the legalization of marijuana, are stopped, our government will always be against legalization. Big corporations buy the votes they need to get what they want. Marijuana and hemp should be legal. It will help our environment and our economy. It will help with many medical problems and has been proven to kill brain and lung cancer cells. Big Pharmacy corporations will fight to the death to keep it illegal. Big oil will fight to the death to keep it illegal because it can be used to make bio fuel. Our government always votes in favor of big corporations and against we the people.

[stargazer13]

I agree lets make lobbying our elected officials illegal

congress shall take no monies from any one except what the American tax payer gives him or her while in office

[j.gold]

I would think the cigarette companies would lobby for it. Seems like they could move right in to selling it and make more money then with cigarettes.

[stargazer13]

save the seed that will save the planet

have you ever wondered how many of earths flora have been outlawed by man .

I have always asked the question if the earth grows some thing man deems illegal

should we put the planet in jail !!! forfeiture of property that.s what has been done and is being done

if you own property lets say a back yard and you grow five marijuana plants and the police raid you

they confiscate you your plants and your property . law enforcements reasoning is your backyard dirt committed a crime I have always asked how does the planets dirt commit a crime for doing what it is soppose to do

[serecovery]

I could see this being a 2nd term issue, not a first term issue for President Obama.