Nearly half of America backs pot legalization

FireDogLake.com:

Americans’ support for marijuana legalization is the highest it has ever been, according to the latest Gallup poll. Currently 46 percent of Americans believe the use of marijuana should be legal, while 50 percent think it should stay illegal. The American people are now roughly evenly split on the question. The issue of marijuana legalization has gone from a once fringe position to something solidly mainstream. Most importantly, the trend line shows accelerating movement in the direction of greater acceptance for legalization.

According to the poll, liberals, adults under 30, and people who live in the Western states are most supportive, while Republicans, conservatives, and those over 65 are the least supportive. This huge age divide partly explains why support for legalization is trending up and will likely continue to for years to come.

Just one year ago, only 44 percent supported legalization, 54 percent opposed it, and just five years ago, only 36 percent supported legalization and 60 percent opposed–a massive 10-point swing from opposition to support in only five years. Based on the current trend line, I easily suspect by the 2012 election we could see more Americans who support legalization than oppose it.

It is important to keep in mind that this is a poll of all Americans. As a whole, registered voters tend to be slightly more conservative than all Americans, and those most likely to vote tend to be more conservative still.

Whether Proposition 19 succeeds or fails this year in California, the issue of marijuana legalization is not going to go away. With the trend moving in the direction of marijuana, legalization, it will likely become a reality in an American state (or several states) soon. If not this year, than likely in 2012, 2014, or 2016, the citizens of astate with a ballot initiative process will use direct democracy to end marijuana prohibition.