I looked behind the post and graphs on the first page and went to the Gallup site to look at the numbers and data breakdowns.
This is MUCH better than the regional breakdown that Skip post on the first page here. The difference is in the question that was asked.
The regional breakdown that Skip posts on the first page is showing significant opposition in the Mid-West, which didn't make any sense to me at all. It looked like a rogue poll. Looking more closely at the numbers, I can now make better sense of it. Mid-West Americans are not more opposed to legalization of Marijuana than the South. Not at all. They are simply more opposed to new taxes.
Looking at the responses to legalization without taxing it, the regional results are FAR better and I'm extremely encouraged by the breakdowns too. I think this is within reach. Have a look:
http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com...roduction/Cms/POLL/yb5uflgbg0apmwiir7wl-w.gif
The support for legalization of MJ, by region, breaks down as:
West: %53 in favor
Mid-West: 42% in favor (a HUGE difference of 34% in favor of taxing it)
East: 46% in favor
South: only 40% in favor
The difference in voting patterns is extremely encouraging in over just the past four years.
Look at the growth: an increase of 7% among Republicans, (only 3% growth among Independents) and a MASSIVE increase among women. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY KEY. Women used to be the most actively hostile to legalization. Of all groups, women were the ones who opposed it the most. Now? It's virtually identical and within the margin of error. The gender gap has utterly vanished at Male 45 in favor and Women 44 in favor. That difference used to be 12 points only 4 years ago.
It was exactly the same back with Prohibition in the early part of the 20th Centruy, I might add. The temperance movement was very much a female dominated phenomenon. It was only when that stopped being the case that Prohibition ended.
That, my friends, is BIG news. As in chill the champagne, and book the ballroom news. That has never, ever happened before. The mothers and grandmothers are coming over. Looks like stilletto stoners is exactly what we needed all along. That - and sick and dying patients on 60 Minutes.
For those suggesting doom and gloom, you are not just wrong, but these numbers show you are dead wrong. To see equal support for legalization among genders is unprecedented. I tell you, this thing is genuinely in reach.
The reason why is in the details of the age differences. No other factor has a weight in a person's response more than their age. The numbers have crept up rather steadily over time, accepting the relative flattening of the curve in the heyday in the war aainst drugs and the scourge that crack cocaine and crystal meth inflicted upon society's views towards drugs, generally.
Now? The numbers are up all across the board, the gender support is equal(!), and it's support among even moderate Republicans is significantly higher in just 4 years. What does this tell us?
It tells us that in less than ten years time, the support for legalization will probably be in the majority not only in the West, but in the mid-west and in the East too. Only the South is likely to remain opposed - and even then it's a near thing.
The generation gap is the only gap that needs closing here. And that is the best news of all, Because, my friends, the generation gap is absolutely certain to close as time marches onwards.
Death is 100% certain, 20 times out of 20.
This thing is now within striking distance. Truly. Another ten years? Hell, maybe even as few as five, and we've got this.
This is MUCH better than the regional breakdown that Skip post on the first page here. The difference is in the question that was asked.
The regional breakdown that Skip posts on the first page is showing significant opposition in the Mid-West, which didn't make any sense to me at all. It looked like a rogue poll. Looking more closely at the numbers, I can now make better sense of it. Mid-West Americans are not more opposed to legalization of Marijuana than the South. Not at all. They are simply more opposed to new taxes.
Looking at the responses to legalization without taxing it, the regional results are FAR better and I'm extremely encouraged by the breakdowns too. I think this is within reach. Have a look:
http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com...roduction/Cms/POLL/yb5uflgbg0apmwiir7wl-w.gif
The support for legalization of MJ, by region, breaks down as:
West: %53 in favor
Mid-West: 42% in favor (a HUGE difference of 34% in favor of taxing it)
East: 46% in favor
South: only 40% in favor
The difference in voting patterns is extremely encouraging in over just the past four years.
Look at the growth: an increase of 7% among Republicans, (only 3% growth among Independents) and a MASSIVE increase among women. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY KEY. Women used to be the most actively hostile to legalization. Of all groups, women were the ones who opposed it the most. Now? It's virtually identical and within the margin of error. The gender gap has utterly vanished at Male 45 in favor and Women 44 in favor. That difference used to be 12 points only 4 years ago.
It was exactly the same back with Prohibition in the early part of the 20th Centruy, I might add. The temperance movement was very much a female dominated phenomenon. It was only when that stopped being the case that Prohibition ended.
That, my friends, is BIG news. As in chill the champagne, and book the ballroom news. That has never, ever happened before. The mothers and grandmothers are coming over. Looks like stilletto stoners is exactly what we needed all along. That - and sick and dying patients on 60 Minutes.
For those suggesting doom and gloom, you are not just wrong, but these numbers show you are dead wrong. To see equal support for legalization among genders is unprecedented. I tell you, this thing is genuinely in reach.
The reason why is in the details of the age differences. No other factor has a weight in a person's response more than their age. The numbers have crept up rather steadily over time, accepting the relative flattening of the curve in the heyday in the war aainst drugs and the scourge that crack cocaine and crystal meth inflicted upon society's views towards drugs, generally.
Now? The numbers are up all across the board, the gender support is equal(!), and it's support among even moderate Republicans is significantly higher in just 4 years. What does this tell us?
It tells us that in less than ten years time, the support for legalization will probably be in the majority not only in the West, but in the mid-west and in the East too. Only the South is likely to remain opposed - and even then it's a near thing.
The generation gap is the only gap that needs closing here. And that is the best news of all, Because, my friends, the generation gap is absolutely certain to close as time marches onwards.
Death is 100% certain, 20 times out of 20.
This thing is now within striking distance. Truly. Another ten years? Hell, maybe even as few as five, and we've got this.
