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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass 1
#13290503 - 10/04/10 08:13 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass October 4, 2010 - AlterNet By Norm Stamper
Everyone from former law officers to single parents and young adults are pushing for California to legalize pot this November.
A few short months ago, California's Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, seemed likely to fade away in a puff of smoke. After more than three decades on the front lines of the disastrous "war on drugs," I feared this best-hope-to-date chapter in the battle for sane drug laws was a lost cause. But something has changed in the public's consciousness, and in its resolve.
On September 30 the Public Policy Institute of California published the results of its new poll. It shows Proposition 19 winning, by a resounding 52-41 margin. Other polls are similarly encouraging.
What, apart from a smart, well-run campaign, explains this big swing in momentum?
For one thing, more and more police officers have decided that the 40-year drug war is a farce and a failure. These cops have been eyewitnesses to the ruinous effects of drug arrests on the lives of the people they've been hired to protect and serve, and they're finally speaking out. Members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, in particular, have been reaching out to service clubs, civic groups, and fellow cops throughout the state. They've been especially persuasive in countering the escalating fear-mongering misrepresentations of anti-19 forces.
Parents, including multiplying ranks of formerly resistant single moms, fed up with violence in their neighborhoods, with marijuana's ready availability in schools, and with the heartbreaking realities of their teenage children's criminal records, are at last speaking out against the absurdity of the state's marijuana laws. (And they won't be dissuaded from voting for Proposition 19 simply because of their governor's cynical, last-minute but long-overdue gesture in reducing penalties in simple pot possession cases.)
Surprising numbers of conservative Californians have joined forces with civil libertarians to create a formidable bloc of states' rights advocates opposed to indefensible government intrusion into our everyday lives.
Human and civil rights advocates, such as the NAACP, have taken official positions in opposition to the deep-seated racism reflected in drug law enforcement, and in support of Proposition 19.
And, of course, Golden State voters are increasingly motivated by reliable estimates that California, buried under a mountain of debt and forced to slash vital services, stands to capture up to $1.4 billion in new revenues, along with substantial savings in law enforcement and other criminal justice costs.
But perhaps the biggest boost to the pro-19 campaign may be found in the vast army of young adults working for its passage. A natural anti-prohibition demographic, young Californians not only oppose their state's marijuana laws they are investing substantial time and energy to the cause of replacing them. They've organized, mobilized, gone door to door, rallied their friends.
Cynics take note. These young people will show up at the polls. And, in all likelihood, they will cast the decisive votes that will restore adult possession of marijuana as a basic freedom.
Norm Stamper is former chief of the Seattle Police Department, and an advisory board member of NORML and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).
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Rebirtha
I really like bread




Registered: 09/22/03
Posts: 5,680
Loc: over there
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: veggie]
#13291160 - 10/04/10 10:23 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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the vote is soon, cannot wait for this!
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Rebirtha]
#13291365 - 10/04/10 11:09 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
These young people will show up at the polls. And, in all likelihood, they will cast the decisive votes that will restore adult possession of marijuana as a basic freedom.
 
--------------------
   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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Society
Mmmm... pizza



Registered: 07/03/04
Posts: 14,307
Loc:
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: veggie]
#13291540 - 10/04/10 11:49 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yay! However, polls happen to generally be total bullshit.
Wonder how long it will be after marijuana is legalized before an entire reevaluation of the drug war is asserted.
-------------------- Delicious Pizza
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auronlives69
psychedelic monk



Registered: 04/19/09
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: veggie]
#13291704 - 10/05/10 12:36 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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hope this wins by a landslide, its the suspense thats killing me right now
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skatealex2
////////////////



Registered: 07/04/08
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Society]
#13291709 - 10/05/10 12:37 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hope this passes!!!!
Edited by skatealex2 (10/05/10 02:47 AM)
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Ascend48
Mr.Stranger



Registered: 02/28/09
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Society]
#13291855 - 10/05/10 01:45 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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"Cynics take note. These young people will show up at the polls. And, in all likelihood, they will cast the decisive votes that will restore adult possession of marijuana as a basic freedom."
As I read this I got chills and teary-eyed. I've always known I would witness legalization in my lifetime and now that it might really happen I'm optimistic and thrilled.
-------------------- We do not possess imagination enough to sense what we are missing. Jean Toomer
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Mickalopagus
living in perverty


Registered: 07/06/04
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Ascend48]
#13291895 - 10/05/10 02:08 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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yep, it would be amazing
-------------------- notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... " ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: veggie]
#13292073 - 10/05/10 04:40 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yay! Go California!
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guest1
Mycena




Registered: 05/25/09
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Le_Canard]
#13292242 - 10/05/10 07:00 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Don't make an excuse to not vote (Yes) on prop 19.
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bluecurry
Dragons don't



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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Society]
#13292723 - 10/05/10 10:05 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Society said: Yay! However, polls happen to generally be total bullshit.
Wonder how long it will be after marijuana is legalized before an entire reevaluation of the drug war is asserted.
Polls influence public opinion, and the more the pundits say it will pass, it's just that more likely to pass.
I don't see this going the opposite way as it can for some situations where too much public reporting biased to one side creates a backlash. There's no equal force really pushing to continue criminalization besides the government.
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: bluecurry]
#13292857 - 10/05/10 10:33 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm surprised the Mormon fucksticks aren't sticking their big noses in this like they did with the gay marriage thing a while back.
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Sophistic Radiance
Free sVs!



Registered: 07/11/06
Posts: 43,135
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Le_Canard]
#13292936 - 10/05/10 10:54 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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They've gotten lazy now that their ultimate enemy, the homo-sexual menace, is vanquished for all time.
-------------------- Enlil said: You really are the worst kind of person.
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Rebirtha
I really like bread




Registered: 09/22/03
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Society]
#13293105 - 10/05/10 11:30 AM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Society said: Yay! However, polls happen to generally be total bullshit.
Wonder how long it will be after marijuana is legalized before an entire reevaluation of the drug war is asserted.
Professional voting pollsters usually have about a 4% margin of error but are pretty accurate most of the time.
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Entropymancer

Registered: 07/16/05
Posts: 10,207
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Le_Canard]
#13295152 - 10/05/10 06:46 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
ToiletDuk said: I'm surprised the Mormon fucksticks aren't sticking their big noses in this like they did with the gay marriage thing a while back.
They got in trouble over that... at least in California, tax-exempt religious institutions aren't allowed to also be political activist organizations too.
If they tried to diddle their dicks in Prop 19, they'd lose their tax-exempt status, and you know how religions love their money
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ripten
loner

Registered: 01/28/10
Posts: 206
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: veggie]
#13295214 - 10/05/10 06:56 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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November 2nd is D-Day for the war on drugs, please get out there and vote if you are in California
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Mickalopagus
living in perverty


Registered: 07/06/04
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Re: Pot Legalization in CA Polling Over 50% -- This Thing Could Really Pass [Re: Entropymancer]
#13299027 - 10/06/10 02:29 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Entropymancer said:
Quote:
ToiletDuk said: I'm surprised the Mormon fucksticks aren't sticking their big noses in this like they did with the gay marriage thing a while back.
They got in trouble over that... at least in California, tax-exempt religious institutions aren't allowed to also be political activist organizations too.
If they tried to diddle their dicks in Prop 19, they'd lose their tax-exempt status, and you know how religions love their money 
Do you know how they got in trouble for that?
-------------------- notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... " ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."
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