California
is currently the state with America's largest medical marijuana industry and it
looks like California voters would like it to stay that way. A California Field
Poll released in February 2013 showed that voters strongly support the
existence of medical marijuana dispensaries. In addition, they favor legalizing
marijuana for recreational use and would like the federal government to stay
out of California cannabis businesses all together. In fact, 67% of
Californians oppose an ongoing crackdown on businesses who are selling pot for
medicinal use.
This poll's
results come at a time when the California State Supreme Court is deliberating
on whether cities and counties in California have the right to ban marijuana
dispensaries or not. This poll also comes only three months after Colorado and
Washington both passed measures to legalize marijuana.
"This poll…heartens me and makes me
feel validated"
--Steve DeAngelo, Director of
California's largest medical marijuana dispensary
However,
California's four U.S. attorneys do not seem to feel the same way as their
voters. All four have brought criminal cases against some of the medical
marijuana growers and even sent threatening letters to several other growers in
attempts to seize their properties.
Many believe
that California politicians, who continue to oppose medical marijuana and its
distribution in California, are going to see serious consequences at election
time and that this poll demonstrates the growing public trend favoring
legalizing marijuana.
"I think it shows that it's going to in
in 2016, and it's just a matter of writing the best law that we can."
--Richard Lee, Proposition 19
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