The campaign behind California’s ‘Adult Use of Marijuana Act’ has turned in more than 600,000 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. 365,880 of those signatures need to be valid for that to happen. The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently released poll results which found very strong support for marijuana legalization in California. Per PPIC:
Marijuana legalization. A majority (60%) of likely voters say that, in general, marijuana use should be legal, and 37 percent say it should not be legal. It is estimated that the initiative to legalize marijuana—if passed—would generate about $1 billion in tax revenue annually, most of which would be directed toward substance abuse prevention and treatment. Among likely voters, 43 percent say that spending the revenue this way is very important.
“California seems poised to show its blue state credentials in the fall,” Baldassare said. “Voters today are signaling their early support for Democratic statewide candidates, tax initiatives, and marijuana legalization.”
Assuming the initiative makes the ballot, which I think it will, it will be interesting to see what other polls say that are more specific to the initiative, and how those numbers change as election day approaches. I saw Tom Angell from the Marijuana Majority hint on Facebook today that Project SAM may be opening an office in Los Angeles soon. If so, I expect some serious reefer madness to be spread, which unfortunately will sway some swing voters.
