Proposition 19 support falls, Field Poll finds

[Frank Booth]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Support for Proposition 19, the state initiative that would legalize marijuana, is fading in the final days of the campaign, according to Field Poll results released today.

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Of 1,501 registered voters who participated in the Field Poll, 49 percent said they oppose Prop. 19 and 42 percent said they are in favor of it - that's a complete reversal from the poll in September.

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In fact, poll results on Prop. 19 have shifted continuously over the course of the campaign. In July, 48 percent of people polled were against Prop. 19. In September, 49 percent were in favor of it. Now, the opposition is leading again.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/31/BARL1G4GT8.DTL&tsp=1

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It's not looking good. It's supposed to be a difficult measure to poll, but the most recent results have consistently shown a trend toward defeat of Prop 19.

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. Field polls are the gold statndard in the industry...

...and in CA -- which is all they do -- they've got an enviable record.

[kestrel91316]

2. If it doesn't pass this time, it will pass next time. It is inevitable.

The younger generations coming up are TOTALLY in favor of legalization. The old farts (including my disappointing generation), not so much.

[krabigirl]

39. I agree.

[defendandprotect]

3. So Americans want to continue to punish themselves and their kids?

And pay for it -- ?????

Isn't that hard to believe -- right wing propaganda wins again?

[n2doc]

7. There is also a strong contingent of pot growers

Who like the system exactly as it is and who will vote against prop 19. But eventually, legalization will happen. Just have to keep bringing it up and educating the people.

[joshcryer]

20. Exactly. I know a guy who made $20000 in one growing season, for doing *nothing*.

And by nothing I mean that, his mom was the gardener, he just got the seeds and planted them, she tended to them! It was crazy!

In any event, if Prop 19 passed he'd be lucky to gross $2000.

[Myrina]

68. ... he'll be bought out by ConAgra or Monsanto ...

:(

[krabigirl]

34. Yep.

[JDPriestly]

11. Possession of small quantities of Marijuana in California at this time

is a minor matter subject to a fine. Selling it is serious. I suppose growing it is too.

It may be that a lot of Californians want to see how just making possession of marijuana a no-jail-time offense works.

Most people don't smoke or use marijuana. This doesn't affect those of us who do not use it. So a lot of people don't care one way or the other. Why change it a lot of people may have decided.

[Jackpine Radical]

14. It most certainly does affect non-users.

For starters, you have to pay for the cops, helicopters, etc. dedicated to finding "grows" in the back woods, busting down people's doors, etc. Second, pot & coke are the financial backbone of large criminal organizations on both sides of the border. Third, you could be having better public services on less tax money if some of the drug money were finding its way into the public coffers instead of into the hands of the cartels.

[defendandprotect]

27. The Drug War is pretty much now part of the MIC ...!!!

Recently, we had 7,000 troops and 45 battle ships off Costa Rica's shore monitoring

drugs there -- working with their government! And plans to include other nations.

Drug War is also corrupting our government and its agencies and our elected officials --

our banks are laundering drug money; huge amounts. Drugs corrupt police enforcement

and have given us our shiny new Prison Industrial Complex!

Additionally, it's obviously a health aid .... at the least!

Aren't you at all curious about how it might help (others) avoid Big Pharma drugs?

Whether it might help reverse cancerous tumors/breast cancer?

[flamingdem]

4. Spread the word: FREE POT at the polls! nt

[Warren Stupidity]

5. FuckedRepublic.Com

Idiocy reigns across the land. Fear won. Hands down.

[Iliyah]

6. I don't know

about it not passing. I think it will. Seems like the polls are off this electoral cycle. I'm in Los Angeles.

[24601]

8. Just two words man, "bummer." n/t

[ProudDad]

9. I'll let you know the resulst of my poll on Wed... (n/t)

[Alexander]

10. Was this an automatic poll or a live caller poll?

Statistically, automated polls have shown more support for Prop 19 than live callers, perhaps due to social desirability bias.

[shanti]

15. exactly

people lie to live pollsters, tell the truth to machines with regard to issues like moral/ethical issues. thing is that many people don't have land lines anymore, especially young people who vote yes.

[w4rma]

12. There will be more elections. Patience. This issue isn't going away. Not until it's fixed. (nt)

[sam sarrha]

13. grow our own. ....!! send the Mexican Drug Dealers Pack'n back south .

[Sonoman]

17. It might as well be legal now.

Go to your local High School and round up 10 kids at random.

Eight of them can get some reefer with a single phone call.

Drive a little north of me and check out the ten-foot tall fences around almost every yard.

I don't have to pay a dime for the best s+*t on the Planet.

Sonoman

[sam sarrha]

52. it costs a lot of money to ruin peoples lives.. an alcohols the 4th major health hazard and tobacco

tobacco kills 1200 a day-1080 of those dead were addicted as children 13-18 and 525 dead addicted 12 years old and younger.

weed has no relared deaths, ad id legalized it will allow agricturle hemp to be grown

http://www.jackherer/chapters.html

[BlueIris]

19. Okay, I actually don't support legalization, but this made me LOL.

(And those who want to flame me, save it; I'm never going to think it's okay to rationalize toxic, addictive substance use.)

[U4ikLefty]

21. So you're for the prohibition of alcohol?

It is a "toxic, addictive substance."

[quakerboy]

22. or perhaps for

medical use only?

[U4ikLefty]

23. LOL nt

[krabigirl]

37. I'm sure many are. So many puritans on the left, just like on the right.

[defendandprotect]

28. Even if you had breast cancer ... ???

[BlueIris]

30. I'm allergic to marijuana. So I guess I'd have to utilize other treatments.

I've never said I didn't support decriminalization for medicinal use, and in fact, voted to decriminalize it in Oregon for that purpose. But I can't support the idea of legalizing it.

Seriously, don't bother trying to "convince" me; I'm never going to agree that legalization is appropriate or a good thing.

[defendandprotect]

31. I don't think anyone is trying to change you .... we're trying to understand your thinking ....

good work on having voted for Medical Marijian, however -- !!


:)

[BlueIris]

29. To the learning impaired who insist on flaming me: I said *don't* bother.

That shit is toxic, and those of us who not only think it's awful but are also allergic to it have the right to protect ourselves from its harmful effects. You have no audience with me, take it somewhere else.

[U4ikLefty]

32. Cannabis has a very low toxicity level.

duh, this is fun

[krabigirl]

36. toxic? Have some data on that?

[Zhade]

45. It is NOT toxic. That's a flat-out lie. Stop lying.

(Oh, and you're probably allergic to the smoke, not the cannabis.)

[Occulus]

66. Never mind.

You're proud of your ignorance.

[krabigirl]

35. lol...

This just shows that it's the Democrats as well as the Republicans that are killing this.
sick.

[Zhade]

44. It's not addictive. Nor is it toxic. You are completely wrong on this subject.

Do some fucking research. Jesus.

[jmowreader]

50. Then you should be okay with Prop 19

since marijuana is neither toxic nor addictive. It's not harmless, but the main harm in marijuana use comes from its legal status.

Hard drugs? That's a different story--opiates, cocaine, uppers, downers and meth are all correctly illegal.

[Occulus]

65. "cannabis", "toxic", and "addictive" do not belong together in a sentence

unless the latter two contain the prefix "non-".

But then, you were already well aware of that, weren't you?

[OnionPatch]

67. Legality does not equal rationalization.

Everything that's "bad" is not illegal and it's not the government's place to make it so. No one is passing a law telling me I can't eat processed, fatty meat products. We don't need a nanny state (pardon me for using that term) telling us what we can and cannot consume and making every decision for us. No one says you have to use marijuana, but I highly resent that you think it's ok to put me in prison because I do.

[customerserviceguy]

16. We'll see what happens when the votes are counted

but if this goes down, I have to question my view of California as a blue state, especially given the thumping that equal marriage got a couple of years ago.

[jmowreader]

51. California is like Washington

Both are blue states with a huge amount of red territory in them.

[customerserviceguy]

53. I used to live in Washington

And every time equality was on the ballot, the people did the right thing with what they were presented. Yes, there's not true equal marriage there, but the "everything but the name" ballot measure was able to pass.

People in Washington, even in the boondocks, are far more progressive than California seems to be. I'd say that fundamentalism holds a greater sway in CA than it does in either OR or WA, and that's the difference.

[Frances]

18. My husband and I are against drug abuse

but we are voting to legalize marijuana (sp?) In fact, we've already marked our absentee ballots and will turn them in on Tuesday.

[Innocent Smith]

24. Surprising

I really thought this would pass and was surprised when I heard it was behind a couple of weeks ago. I remember it being quite a bit ahead in Sept.

[Codeine]

25. I can't stand weed and potheads are just irritating and stinky IMO, BUT

even I'm voting Yes on 19. If a straight-edge anti-weed asshole such as myself can get out and vote Yes to marijuana legalization then the stoners have only themselves and their laziness to blame if it fails -- which I am not necessarily convinced will happen.

[krabigirl]

33. Wrong. They have their greed to blame.

People in the industry don't want this to pass..they want to keep raking in the profits that come only under Prohibition. :(

[Zhade]

46. Please stop with the stereotyping. I'm hardly lazy or stinky.

Irritating? Well, that's a matter of opinion. : )

[pokerfan]

26. It doesn't help that the DNC is neutral on Prop 19

Proposition 19: Neutral

Allows for the regulation, control and taxation of cannabis

http://www.cadem.org/vote?id=0007

Good luck, California.

[krabigirl]

38. I never trust polls..this one could go either way.

However, if it fails, I blame people in the industry now. They like it how it is. Greedy people..

[Incognitus Czar]

40. FUCK THAT

Legalize marijuana?! Hellz no! Unless we're talking about marijuana for medical use, then okay.
But anything else should be illegal.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. Why?

I can't fathom a reason why it should remain illegal.

[Incognitus Czar]

42. because...

Because it's a drug with harmful side effects, addiction and withrawal symptomes for instance.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

43. Many legal drugs (alcohol, for one) have far more harmful effects.

Are you for banning alcohol as well?

And marijuana has never killed one person, unlike alcohol, tobacco, and even aspirin, all perfectly legal substances.

Here's where marijuana ranks on addictiveness and withdrawal -- it's on par with caffeine:

http://www.drugsense.org/tfy/addictvn.htm

But you're in good company. Guess who else wants to keep it illegal -- drug dealers.

[Nevernose]

58. Caffeine actually has some physical effects of withdrawal

Unlike weed. I actually get violently, physically sick if I go more than a day or so without caffeine; just a few hours and I'll have a debilitating migraine. It's to the point where my doctor and I have discussed that, after I take care of some other medical issues first and have a few days off from work, she'll get me loaded on enough tranqs and muscle relaxants for a few days that I won't care about the initial effects.

Ironically, the initial caffeine symptoms would be perfectly treated by marijuana -- lethargy, nausea, migraine, depression -- but I just really, really don't enjoy the effects of marijuana.

[Zhade]

47. Utter bullshit, of course. You are completely wrong.

NT!

[SammyWinstonJack]

54. LMAO!

:rofl: You're lying. :silly:

[Nevernose]

56. Addiction? Seriously?

You ever hear of anyone sucking a stranger's **** in an alleyway for pot money? If anyone answers "yes" to that question, they're a freaking liar.

It's like you got your anti-marijuana information from one of those anti-drug comic books they gave away when I was a kid.

"Holy pots and pans, Batman! The Joker's in Gotham square chopping off babies' heads! And he hates Jesus and loves commies! Why would anyone -- even someone as diabolical as The Joker -- do such a thing?"

"The Joker wasn't always like that, Robin. He was normal once, but he's a reefer addict, and there is no cure. Not for the kind of insanity the toxic scourge of marihuana causes. He did this to himself and now he must be stopped at all costs."

[RainDog]

63. Marijuana is not physically addictive

studies since the 1940s have debunked this lie.

there may be people who become psychologically addicted - but people may also become psychologically addicted to a variety of legal substances as well - like the internet. it's the person, not the product, that is the issue.

Withdrawal symptoms for anyone with a psychological addiction may mimic minor physical addiction - a couple of days of irritation - and for this reason you are willing to deny students loans to attend college, you are willing to justify people losing their homes for doing something less harmful than drinking a cocktail.

you are part of the problem in this nation, not part of the solution.

[Posteritatis]

69. I take it you're in favor of criminalizing possession of tobacco and alcohol, right? (nt)

[FrenchieCat]

48. When I asked my 20 year old daughter if she supported prop 19.....

She said, NO.

I was surprised. :wow:

[fretboard]

49. Prop. 19 fading?

WTF!? Sure it's fading but not failing! It will pass with flying colors, as it now has all the support it needs to pass! Besides who cares what ppl in SF thought when the poll was given? What counts is how they vote and I totally think it's gonna pass! I'm just sayin'!!~

[Xithras]

55. It's the "jobs" thing. Everyone I know who has switched, has done so for that reason.

If your co-worker comes in smelling of booze, your boss can send him home.

If your co-worker comes in smelling of pot, your boss can be sued if he sends him home...unless your boss can "prove" that the pot is interfering with their job performance.

A lot of people are put off by the double standard, and don't like the idea of a boss having to perform field sobriety tests on employees to determine whether they're too high to work.

I've been hearing a lot of "I support legalization, but this proposition is written too broadly."

I've also heard a number of people arguing about the fact that it doesn't permit local grower licensing or regulation, to permit additional taxation (in other words, it won't generate enough tax revenue to be "worthwhile").

[Arugula Latte]

57. Frankly, it might take 10 or 20 years for more of the older prohibitionists to die out

but I think eventually it will be legalized, if not tomorrow.

[Pavulon]

59. I hope this passes. It is the first step to unfucking the laws

responsible for filling our prisons with people and making our streets violent. Drug law creates a major problem in the US.

The old way is obviously a failure, time to move forward.

[Hook]

60. It was decriminalized anyway, now only a $100 fine

This is just the corporate takeover of weed.

[Zhade]

62. LIE

Go back to your illegal grow, rich dealer.

[RainDog]

61. THANK YOU

to EVERYONE in California who has voted or will vote YES on Proposition 19.

You are helping to lead the world to saner drug policies.

[LawnLover]

64. When they did an ANONYMOUS poll, the prop

won overwhelmingly. Many people being polled don't want to admit they support it.