Just after midnight on 4/20—a day celebrated by stoners around the world for reasons they've mostly forgotten—the Associated Press harshed the holiday's vibe by releasing the results of a nationwide survey about legalizing marijuana. The conclusion: we still live in a nation of uptight, reactionary Archie Bunker types who think it makes sense to throw away billions of taxpayer dollars for the sake of criminalizing a plant. Survey says:
- 55 percent of Americans oppose the legalization of marijuana.
- Predictably, people under 30 were the only age group favoring legalization (54 percent) and opposition increased with age, topping out at 73 percent of those 65 and older.
- Opposition was highest among women, Republicans and those in rural and suburban areas.
- Sixty percent support the idea of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, and 74 percent believe the drug has a real medical benefit for some people.
- 45 percent said the cost of enforcing existing laws is too high and 48 percent said "it's about right." Democrats, men and young people were most apt to say the cost is "exorbitant."
John Lovell, a spokesman with the California Narcotics Officers' Association, says the poll shows how worried Americans are about widespread abuse of legal prescription drugs and alcohol: "Given that reality, we don't need to add another mind-altering substance that compromises people's five senses." Because criminalizing pot has worked so well in making it unobtainable!
Here in New York, the State Senate is considering following New Jersey and legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. And in California, voters will decide whether to legalize weed at a referendum in November. All this has Americans like Ann Broadus, 58, of Petros, Tenn., worried sick: "Probably somewhere down the road it will be legalized, but I hope not. I think if it becomes legal, these druggies would be worse off." Thanks for your concern, Ann!
