New Poll: 85% of Americans In Favor of Medicinal Marijuana Legalization

According to a new poll conducted by FOX News via telephone, almost nine out of ten Americans, (including 80 percent of respondents that identified themselves as Republicans) said that marijuana should be legal if its use is permitted by a physician. With over 1,000 respondents that were registered voters, this poll was overseen by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). There is a ±3% margin of error, but even at 82% in favor of legal medical marijuana, it is clear that the current marijuana laws are archaic and need to be revised on a Federal and State level.

This poll is considered a scientific poll and it shows an increase of 4% in support of medical marijuana since the last FOX poll on the subject in 2010. Major "keywords" of the poll include "legal for adults" and "physician prescribed". This poll comes after a recent Pew poll that found 52% of Americans in favor of legalizing cannabis for adults regardless of prescription or medical use.

Despite the fact that support is at an all time high for medical marijuana access, bills in the House and Senate designed to protect the rights of patients that accept cannabis treatment in States allowing for its use are making little headway when it comes to cosponsors and chances of being heard on their assigned committees.

For example, HB 689, the States' Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act  has a mere 16 co-sponsors out of 435 House members. If you're interested in voicing your support, HB 689 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee; Subcommittee on Health (contact info on the bottom right of the page) and also to the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, (contact info at the bottom of the page - send emails "In Care Of" the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations). Neither committee has given the bill a hearing yet. Another example is the "Respect State Marijuana Laws Act" presented this year by California US Representative, Dana Rohrbacher. This bill, HB1523, is cosponsored only by the following Reps:

Justin Amash (R-Mich.)
Don Young (R-Alaska)
Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)
Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)
Jared Polis (D-Colo.)

Be sure to contact your local and State Congress members and voice your support for getting these bills a hearing! If we're going to see the change we want, the only way to be heard is by telling your elected officials that you are PRO full legalization of marijuana!