Timing is Everything

Sometimes, it's not the question you ask that's important but, rather, WHEN you ask the question.  As an example:

"Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal?" 

When Gallop asked that question in 1969, only 12% of the respondents said, "Yes."  By 1985, that number was up to 23%.  And by 2002, 34% of the poll respondents thought legalizing marijuana was a good idea.  But that was then and this is now: In the most recent poll, "Yes" got 58% of the vote, compared to only 39% for "No."

When I initially found this information through an article in the Seattle P-I (Gallop poll: For the first time, strong majority of Americans favor legalizing marijuana), it didn't really "speak" to me.  I'm not a marijuana smoker and, while I did vote "yes" when legalization was on the ballot last year in Washington, I don't really have a vested interest in the results of either an election or a poll.  However, as I read the article and analyzed the charts that were included, I realized that it isn't the so-called "potheads" leading this change ... it's people like me:  

 

I'm 43

 

I'm an independent who "leans" toward Democrat

While neither the Seattle P-I, nor Gallup disclose the survey methodology in their article(s), I have no reason to doubt the validity of the information.  Gallup has been doing polls since 1935 and is one of the most trusted sources of public opinion in the world. 

However, I was curious as to why there was such an increase in support for legalization in the past 12 months.  After all, legalization TRAILED in the polls less than a year ago (48% yes, 50% no).

The most obvious answer lies in the fact that both Washington state and Colorado recently passed voter-approved measures legalizing marijuana.  But those measures had both been passed when Gallup conducted their poll in 2012 (from November 26-29).  Wanting a "deeper" reason, I scoured the Gallup website until I came across two additional pieces of information that helped put the final pieces in the puzzle:

Americans believe we are losing "war on drugs."

 

And, in conjunction with Washington and Colorado legalizing marijuana, the public's opinion of whether or not the federal government should challenge those laws is pretty one-sided.

As many of us know, the Obama administration did, in fact, opt not to challenge the Washington and Colorado voters.  Marijuana use still remains a federal crime.  But possession and use are now legal in 2 of the 50 states and, judging by the polls, it's probably just a matter of time before it's legal nationwide.
 

REFERENCES:

Ellison, J.  (2013, October 22).  Gallop poll: For the first time, strong majority of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.  Seattle P-I.  Retrieved from http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2013/10/22/gallup-poll-strong-majority-of-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana/

Swift, A.  (2013, October 22).  For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana: Support surged 10 percentage points in past year, to 58%.  Gallup Politics.  Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/165539/first-time-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Politics

(n.d.). Illegal Drugs.  Gallup.  Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/1657/illegal-drugs.aspx

(n.d.).  Corporate History.  Gallup.  Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/corporate/1357/corporate-history.aspx

 

 

UNRELATED BUT INTERESTING CHART:

(not to be considered as part of the assignment)

 

Three things stand out to me with this chart:

  • The fact that nearly half of the people my age have tried marijuana (I'm 43).

  • The extremely small percentage of people (of any age) who had tried it in 1969.

  • The enormous jump in the 18 to 29 age group from 1969 to 1973.

       (The other age groups were largely unchanged that year.)
 

Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.  And, if you're here in Washington, it's legal to get high while you do :)