Majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/05/07/poll-majority-of-americans-support-legalizing-marijuana/

Poll: Majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana
By John Byrne
May 7, 2009

Fifty two percent of Americans support legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana, according to a new Zogby poll released late Wednesday.

3,937 voters were asked: “Scarce law enforcement and prison resources, a desire to neutralize drug cartels and the need for new sources of revenue have resurrected the topic of legalizing marijuana. Proponents say it makes sense to tax and regulate the drug while opponents say that legalization would lead marijuana users to use other illegal drugs. Would you favor or oppose the government’s effort to legalize marijuana?”

52 percent came out in favor, with 37 percent against. The poll was commissioned by the conservative-leaning O’Leary report.

“The survey, published as a full-page ad in [Wednesday's] issue of the political newspaper The Hill, polled a sample of 3,937 voters weighted to match the 2008 presidential outcome — 54 percent Obama voters and 46 percent McCain supporters,” Salem News reported.

The results are “slightly higher than the 46 percent support reported in an ABC News/Washington Post poll released at the end of April.”