Nate Silver has analyzed the polls on California's marijuana legalization initiative, Proposition 19, and it is looking less and less likely to pass. A new Los Angeles Times/USC poll confirms that a majority of likely voters say they will vote against the measure.
The poll indicated that opposition has surged since September, when 52% of likely voters backed Proposition 19, which would allow Californians to grow and possess pot, and they split evenly over Proposition 23.The earlier poll's Proposition 19 result had encouraged supporters and attracted some high-dollar donations. The measure would allow Californians who are 21 and older to grow and possess marijuana, while cities and counties could authorize commercial cultivation, sales and taxation.The latest poll found support had eroded significantly across all demographic groups, but most steeply among Latino voters. In September, 63% backed it. Now, 51% oppose it.[...]Much of the reversal appears to be driven by evaporating support in Southern California. In September, 56% of likely voters in Los Angeles County and 52% in other Southern California counties supported the measure. This month, those percentages slipped to 41% and 42%.
While I do have some reservations about a few provisions in Prop. 19 (how it might affect the ability of california businesses to get federal contracts), but I think it's a good idea on balance.
ReplyDeleteIt will create a huge conundrum for the federal government, which will have to weigh its options very carefully, but that's a good thing. It will force the feds, for the first time in decades, to seriously reconsider federal drug policy.