Majority of Americans now favor legalization of marijuana

[NYBuckeye96]

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Pol ... d=18881386

A Majority of Americans Now Support Marijuana Legalization

April 4, 2013

State and federal government agencies spend billions of taxpayer dollars each year to combat the sale and consumption of marijuana, and have arrested millions in an ongoing "war on drugs" that has lasted more than four decades.

But if how Americans view pot is any indication, that war may not last another 40 years.

A majority of Americans now support marijuana legalization, according to a poll released on Thursday by the Pew Center for the People & the Press.

A national survey by the center found that 52 percent said that the use of pot should be legal while 45 percent said it should remain illegal.

In more than 40 years of polling on the issue, this is the first time most Americans have backed legalization of the drug, according to Pew. In 1969, a Gallup survey found that only 12 percent favored legalization and 84 percent were opposed.

The poll follows a November election where two states -- Washington and Colorado -- legalized marijuana for recreational use. Use of the drug for medical purposes is increasingly accepted across the county, as well. Nearly two dozen states have laws allowing some level of medicinal marijuana use.

Young people are more likely to be in favor of ending pot prohibition.

Legalization had the support of 65 percent of Millenials and 54 percent of Generation Xers in the poll. Half of Baby Boomers back making marijuana legal, according to Pew.

Nearly half of Americans say they've tried smoking weed, but most of them haven't used it lately. Only 12 percent said they had consumed the drug in the past year.

When it comes to government spending on marijuana, opinions were even stronger. Nearly three-quarters, 72 percent, thought that government efforts to enforce pot laws cost more than they're worth.

[NorthernLight]

Four-Twenty

[NorthernLight]

Happy





Day!!!

[Tigercannon71]

Happy





Day!!!

Why are you celebrating Hitler?

[NorthernLight]

April 20 has evolved into a counterculture holiday in North America, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. Some events have a political nature to them, advocating for the legalization of cannabis.


Having Jewish heritage in my blood. I would not ever......

[Tigercannon71]

Well lets see Hitler killed people by burning them up. Hence celebrating burning one on 4/20 is kinda like celebrating Hitler.

[Orange and Brown]

I don't favor legalization, and no one polled me so how do they figure most Americand want it legalized????

[courier]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^DITTO^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[blue53]

NEWS FLASH!!!!! 100% of all dope smokers thinks it should be legalized.

[ManitouDan]

keep voting for liberal democrats , this is what ya get. a nation full of people who are either stoned or waiting on their checks

[scarlettandgreyhillboy]

Just read that the youngest Boston Bomber was a big pot smoker; peace luv dove

[Leo Byrd]

Colorado court of appeals says no job protection ......

http://news.yahoo.com/court-says-pot-sm ... 32777.html