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A new poll says that most Californians are down to legalize marijuana for recreational use, reports the L.A. Times.
According to the poll, which was conducted by USC Dornsife and the L.A. Times, 58% of participants said that would vote "yes" on Proposition 64, which will be on the November ballot. If passed, the measure will allow Californians 21 years and older to possess up to an ounce of cannabis for recreational use. It would also allow for individuals to grow up to six cannabis plants (time to break out those shears and sun hat!). The measure would impose a 15% tax on the retail sale of marijuana.
There were detractors, of course; 34% of responders said that they'd vote "no," and 8% refused to give an answer. In the context of age groups, the measure got the strongest support from voters aged 18 to 24, with 67% saying they'd support the proposition. The measure got the weakest support from voters over 65—50% said they approved of the measure. And while the proposition got majority approval from white, black and Latino responders, only 47% of Asian-American participants gave their approval. There were 1,879 respondents in total for the poll.
This showing of support was not evident six years ago, when a similar measure in 2010—Proposition 19—was turned down by 53.5% of voters.
What's with the turn in public attitude? According to the Bay Area News Group, it boils down to a number of factors that include Silicon Valley's backing of Proposition 64, as well as Colorado's decision to legalize pot in 2014.
The News Group says that, thanks in part to money from Silicon Valley, supporters of Proposition 64 are outspending the measure's opponents at a 70-to-1 rate. The measure has raised about $19 million in support so far. It's no surprise, then, that one of the proposition's most notable backers is billionaire Sean Parker, who founded Napster and was played by a slimy Justin Timberlake in The Social Network.
Earlier this summer, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors also suggested an added 10% tax that would have funneled money to fight the city's homelessness problem. The proposed measure got shot down, however, as homeless advocates said that there was a conflict of interest in using funds that stem from marijuana.
