SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The debate over the legalization of marijuana has been going back and forth across the country. But the discussion on complete legalization in the California has heated up, thanks to results from a poll released today.
The Field Poll has been collecting data on this issue in California for over 40 years. The most recent results could be a sign that legalization is just one ballot initiative away.
The results from the poll released on Wednesday show a record number in support of marijuana legalization, with 54% saying it should be legalized and 43% saying it should not. It's the highest level of support for marijuana legalization in the 44 years the Field Poll has asked that question.
In 2010, ballot initiative Prop 19 was struck down by voters in a tight race. But Dale Gieringer, director of Cal NORML, which is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, says support has reached a tipping point in favor of legalization.
"Support actually jumped enormously in 2009 and it has been on an upward trend ever since," says Gieringer.
With Colorado and Washington state passing laws to legalize, Gieringer says California will have to wait and see how it pans out over there. As for the high number of support in the Field Poll, he says the younger generation is the cause.
"The younger group is more familiar with it," says Gieringer. "And familiarity eliminates fear."
Gieringer says that he expects the next ballot initiative in California for this issue to be based off of the measures that were passed in Colorado and Washington.
