LOCAL, GALLUP POLLS FIND HIGH SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Support for legalization of marijuana is quickly getting higher.

A local survey of whether people think marijuana should be legalized
conducted on The Journal's Facebook page showed the majority of
respondents support marijuana legalization, as did 50 percent of
Americans according to a national Gallup survey conducted last month.

While half of Americans believe marijuana should become legal, 46
percent do not and 4 percent are undecided, according to Gallup.

A recent Facebook survey brought in 19 comments from current and past
residents of the International Falls area showing support for
legalization of marijuana in general or for medicinal purposes only.
One respondent spoke against legalization.

"Legalize it -- tax it and pay off the national debt, or create some
much-needed jobs," one local respondent wrote.

"It is the least harmful of any of the drugs currently being used for
recreational purposes, including alcohol," said another. "The
extraordinary amounts of tax dollars that are being spent in an
attempt to win the war on recreational use could much better be used
for many things."

That respondent added that the figures from the Gallup poll "may be
close," but "the only way to know for sure is to put it to a vote on
a national level. I believe the numbers would be much larger for legalization."

Gallup surveyed a total of more than 1,000 Americans from all 50
states. When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana in 1969,
12 percent of Americans favored it. Support remained low to the
mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30 percent in 2000 and 40
percent in 2009 before reaching the 50 percent level in this year's
Gallup annual crime survey.

A local survey respondent on the Ifalls Journal Facebook page
received many "likes" when she wrote, "Despite prohibition, marijuana
is the largest cash crop in the U.S. The war on marijuana costs
approximately 42 billion dollars annually, clogs up court systems and
diverts attention from more serious crimes. Marijuana also has
medicinal qualities, and is much safer and more effective than many
pharmaceutical alternatives. Marijuana is non-toxic, non-addictive
and is safer than alcohol, or tobacco. Taxing marijuana would channel
money leaving the country that currently supports smuggling, and
foreign drug cultivation to a U.S. government resource. Despite
federal prohibition in the U.S., states are one-by-one legalizing it."

One local respondent was against legalization out of concern for
children, writing, "It is a drug that impairs the mind! People can
say what they want, but it's still a drug, keep it away from our kids
and off the streets! People should be ashamed to think about
legalizing it!!! Just ask yourself, would you want your kid smoking
it then getting behind the wheel? I love my child more than that!
..I am guilty of trying marijuana and alcohol and it did have those
affects on me! I have learned from this and hope I can teach my
children along with other children not to use!"

Another local person suggested legalizing it and taxing it like
alcohol and setting an age limit, saying "whether it's legal or not,
people still have access to it."

A Gallup survey last year found that 70 percent of Americans favored
making marijuana legal for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce
pain. Americans have consistently been more likely to favor the use
of marijuana for medicinal purposes than to favor its legalization
generally, according to Gallup.

The local survey respondents echoed this, with one respondent
writing, "I believe medical marijuana should be legal. People with
chronic pain due to cancer, MS, life-changing injuries, etc. should
have access to this medication." Another added, "The companies who
make alcohol pay big money to government to keep it easily accessible
to people. Marijuana has medical properties that can help people
dealing with legitimate illnesses."

According to the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform
of Marijuana Laws, marijuana is the third-most-popular recreational
drug in America, behind only alcohol and tobacco.

Young people, ages 18-29, support the legalization at 69 percent
while those over the age of 65 have a 31 percent approval rate of
legalizing marijuana. The Gallup survey also found those living in
the Midwest and West are more likely to favor legalization than those
living in the South.

Some states have decriminalized marijuana's use, some have made it
legal for medicinal use, and some officials, including former U.S.
Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, have called for legalizing its use,
according to information from Gallup.

The Gallup results are summarized in a "bottom line" section,
concluding, "If this current trend on legalizing marijuana continues,
pressure may build to bring the nation's laws into compliance with
the people's wishes."