US: Legalize marijuana? Californians are divided

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US: Legalize marijuana? Californians are divided

Central Valley Business Times

Thursday 20 May 2010

California voters will choose in November whether to legalize marijuana and allow it to be regulated and taxed. But as of now, they are divided about legalization, with 49 percent of likely voters in favor of this change in the law and 48 percent opposed according to a statewide survey released Wednesday evening by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

Results among all adults were similar: 48 percent favor legalization, and 49 percent are opposed. There are stark differences across political and demographic groups:

• Majorities of Democrats (56 percent) and independents (55 percent) favor legalization. Thirty-four percent of Republicans are in favor.?

• Most San Francisco Bay Area residents (56 percent) are in favor. Residents in other regions are either divided or opposed.?

• Most Hispanics (62 percent) oppose legalization. A majority of whites (56 percent) are in favor.?

• Support for legalization decreases with age. 56 percent of adults aged 18–34 are in favor compared to 42 percent aged 55 and older.

When asked about use of marijuana for medical purposes – an issue in cities where there have been disputes about dispensaries -- 76 percent say it should be allowed, with strong majorities of Democrats (82 percent), independents (80 percent), and Republicans (68 percent) holding this view.

Methodology

The PPIC Statewide Survey is supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation. Findings are based on a telephone survey of 2,003 California adult residents interviewed on landlines and cell phones from May 9-16. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish according to respondents' preferences.

The sampling error is ±2 percent for all adults, ±2.5 percent for the 1,598 registered voters, ±3 percent for the 1,168 likely voters.

As a private operating foundation, the Public Policy Institute of California does not take or support positions on any ballot measure or on any local, state, or federal legislation, nor does it endorse, support, or oppose any political parties or candidates for public office. The institute was established in 1994 with an endowment from William R. Hewlett.

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