Recently by Paul Armentano: Only Marijuana Legalization Will End Shocking Police Raids Like the One in Columbia, Missouri

Following Tuesday nights defeat of Prop. 19, I made the following statement to the press:

Throughout this campaign, even our opponents conceded that Americas present marijuana prohibition is a failure. They recognize that the question now isnt Should we legalize and regulate marijuana, but How should we legalize and regulate marijuana?

A just-released, comprehensive post-election poll of California voters strongly supports this sentiment, and further points towards the likelihood of passing a successful marijuana regulation measure in 2012.

Among some of the polls findings:

Fifty percent of California voters, regardless of how they voted on Prop. 19, think the use of marijuana should be made legal.

Further, of those voters who rejected Prop. 19, more than 30 percent believe that marijuana should be legalized or penalties should be reduced.

A majority of Californian voters (52 percent to 37 percent) believe laws against marijuana do more harm than good.

Finally, the poll reaffirms that victory at the ballot box comes down most of all to voter turnout. The survey reports, If youth had comprised the same percentage of the electorate on Tuesday as they do in Presidential election years, Prop. 19 would have been statistically tied.

You can read more here: Despite rejecting Prop. 19, Californians lean toward legalizing marijuana, poll finds, Via The Los Angeles Times

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