flyingimam
11-02-2008, 05:14 AM
Move to legalize medical marijuana supported by 2-1 margin
By DAWSON BELL ? FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER ? November 1, 2008
Michigan voters like the idea of decriminalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, backing the measure 61%-30%, the Detroit Free Press/Local 4 Michigan Poll shows.
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Nine percent said they were undecided about allowing medical marijuana, designated as Proposal 1 on the ballot.
Support for Proposal 1 comes from Michiganders of various backgrounds and parts of the state. But it was stronger among voters under age 45 (66%) than those 65 and older (47%), and among Democrats (76%) than Republicans (49%).
The poll is based on telephone interviews with 616 Michiganders who said they are definitely voting in Tuesday??s election. The poll was conducted by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday through Friday. it has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
If approved by voters, Michigan would become the 13th state to allow marijuana to be cultivated and used as a medical treatment. Patients with debilitating medical conditions and a doctor??s authorization couldn??t be prosecuted. Marijuana possession would remain illegal under federal law.
A coalition of medical and law enforcement organizations that formed in the last month to oppose the proposal says approval would send the wrong signal about society??s attitude toward illegal drugs and make pot more accessible to juveniles.
Carrie Roman, a 31-year-old unemployed Detroiter, said she??s not buying that argument. ??I think it??s got a lot of benefits,? Roman said. ??If kids want pot now, they already know where to get it.?
But Carol Menard, 70, of Woodhaven, who voted by absentee ballot, has already said no to the idea. Menard said marijuana isn??t medicine, and that conditions requiring relief from pain or nausea can be treated with approved pharmaceuticals.
??We have grandchildren,? Menard said. ??Is it going to get to the point where kids can buy marijuana out of vending machines? There will be more crime, more theft. This isn??t a close call.?
Matt Resch, spokesman for the opposition group, conceded the anti-Proposal 1 campaign was slow to get under way. But it has been busy in the last month, he said, and is now airing TV commercials, as are backers of medical marijuana.
Move to legalize medical marijuana supported by 2-1 margin | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/article/20081101/NEWS06/81101034/1008/NEWS06)
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truth and justice shall prevail. i do hope to see this pass in such an overwhelming way as the poll predicts. YES on Prop 1
By DAWSON BELL ? FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER ? November 1, 2008
Michigan voters like the idea of decriminalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, backing the measure 61%-30%, the Detroit Free Press/Local 4 Michigan Poll shows.
Advertisement
Nine percent said they were undecided about allowing medical marijuana, designated as Proposal 1 on the ballot.
Support for Proposal 1 comes from Michiganders of various backgrounds and parts of the state. But it was stronger among voters under age 45 (66%) than those 65 and older (47%), and among Democrats (76%) than Republicans (49%).
The poll is based on telephone interviews with 616 Michiganders who said they are definitely voting in Tuesday??s election. The poll was conducted by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday through Friday. it has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
If approved by voters, Michigan would become the 13th state to allow marijuana to be cultivated and used as a medical treatment. Patients with debilitating medical conditions and a doctor??s authorization couldn??t be prosecuted. Marijuana possession would remain illegal under federal law.
A coalition of medical and law enforcement organizations that formed in the last month to oppose the proposal says approval would send the wrong signal about society??s attitude toward illegal drugs and make pot more accessible to juveniles.
Carrie Roman, a 31-year-old unemployed Detroiter, said she??s not buying that argument. ??I think it??s got a lot of benefits,? Roman said. ??If kids want pot now, they already know where to get it.?
But Carol Menard, 70, of Woodhaven, who voted by absentee ballot, has already said no to the idea. Menard said marijuana isn??t medicine, and that conditions requiring relief from pain or nausea can be treated with approved pharmaceuticals.
??We have grandchildren,? Menard said. ??Is it going to get to the point where kids can buy marijuana out of vending machines? There will be more crime, more theft. This isn??t a close call.?
Matt Resch, spokesman for the opposition group, conceded the anti-Proposal 1 campaign was slow to get under way. But it has been busy in the last month, he said, and is now airing TV commercials, as are backers of medical marijuana.
Move to legalize medical marijuana supported by 2-1 margin | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/article/20081101/NEWS06/81101034/1008/NEWS06)
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truth and justice shall prevail. i do hope to see this pass in such an overwhelming way as the poll predicts. YES on Prop 1