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Prop 19 on Legal Pot Is in Trouble

Bid to legalize marijuana is suddenly trailing in the polls

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2010 5:58 PM CDT

(Newser) – Proposition 19 may have captured a lot of media attention, but the ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in California is suddenly in jeopardy. It's trailing 51% to 39% in a new Los Angeles Times poll after leading much of the way until now. The problem, apparently, is that supporters haven't raised the kind of money necessary for a sustained ad campaign on television.

Generally speaking, Democrats and independents favor the measure, and Republicans oppose it. While Latinos initially seemed to support it, they now oppose it 2 to 1. Men are evenly split, while more women don't like it, and both sides see one group in particular as a key swing vote: mothers. The poll is the second this week to show waning support—a Public Policy Institute of California survey found 44% for it and 49% opposed.

In this 1997 file photo, a grower smells a marijuana plant in San Francisco.
In this 1997 file photo, a grower smells a marijuana plant in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 43 comments
cnna4
Oct 23, 2010 5:07 PM CDT
Proposition 19 is a scam designed by a couple of rich businessmen in Oakland to make themselves more rich. Now people are starting to figure that out. It isn't even a real 'people's initiative', but a sad example of how money can be used to buy legislation. Personally, I favor legalization. But when you look at the dark underside of Proposition 19, you'll see that it is not only bad for the state's economy but also for individual marijuana users. An excellent website that explains what's wrong with Prop 19 and where it came from is http://no-on19.com. They're a group of pot users and even they don't want 19. Also, as of Oct 1, 2010, possessing an ounce of pot in California has ALREADY been decriminalized (no criminal charges, record or court). So who needs 19 now ? Other than big companies. Now you can wave an ounce in front of police and at worst they might give you a ticket.
crafter67
Oct 23, 2010 4:35 PM CDT
Bah! put it out there and let the toking begin - I don't have time to find the illegal sources and want to pick it up in the supermarket with my organic vegetables.
Trommy
Oct 23, 2010 4:35 PM CDT
LA times has been railing against prop 19. I would take this poll with a grain of salt since it was done with a live person calling people. That's going to cause people to be afraid to admit which way they will vote. I seriously doubt the majority have changed their mind on this. However reading the daily smear the LA Times has been laying down this is just part of their tactics to try and defeat the bill.
 

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