A new poll was released in Oregon which shows the marijuana legalization initiative, Measure 91, winning by a significant margin. Support is highest among young voters and independents. Per Oregon Public Broadcasting:
Fifty-two percent of likely voters said they’d vote for the idea. Forty-one percent said they’d vote against it.
Debra Klaviter lives in The Dalles and has run a Farmers Insurance Agency for 25 years. She says she’ll be voting for the marijuana legalization measure because she says it should be an option for people in pain.
“I’ve seen people that have started to take care of their own health care, their own pain management, and how the system works for them. Oh my gracious, there’s no question that it should be legalized,” Klaviter said.
Some who oppose the measure say it would allow people to possess too much pot at one time, and in forms that might appeal to children.
The poll has a margin of error of 4.3 percent. About seven percent of respondents haven’t decided how they’ll vote on Measure 91. That means the measure’s passage is still up for grabs.
Pollster John Horvick of Portland-based DHM research says turn-out will be key.
“For example, 18 to 34 year-olds, 70 percent plan to vote for Measure 91 for legalization. Sixty-eight percent of independents plan to. Now those are all groups who are the least likely to show-up come election day. So if the marijuana campaign is able to get those voters out, it looks like it could pass, it’ll be close, a squeaker.”
I look at this blog’s traffic stats and demographics everyday. I know that we have received well over 600,000 visitors to this blog from Oregon, and that about 75% of those visitors were between 18-34 years old. I don’t know the political party affiliations of those visitors, but I’d imagine a great percentage of them are independents. So for the love of marijuana reform, VOTE! Tell everyone else that you know to VOTE. We will only legalize marijuana in my home state if you guys get off your butts, and turn in your ballots. Oregon is a vote by mail state, so it’s not even that hard. Watch for your ballot, fill it out, and turn it in. Marijuana reform is relying on you!
