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!

Washington and Colorado Pass Historic Cannabis Legalization Legislation

This past election, State initiatives in Colorado and Washington yielded a positive result for the legalization of marijuana: both States determined that cannabis should be legal for both medicinal and recreational purposes. These initiatives are historic as they are the first that fly in the face of Federal law when it comes to the recreational use of marijuana. While cannabis is still scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act as a "Schedule I" drug, States have been legalizing it for medicinal purposes since California passed legislation in 1996. Being a schedule I drug, cannabis, according to the Federal government, has "a high risk for abuse" and "no acknowledged medicinal properties". Let it be known: even cocaine is listed as having medicinal properties according to the Controlled Substances Act, (it is currently scheduled as a Schedule II drug). According to the 44th President, Barack Obama, pursuing marijuana smokers and users will be "low" on the priority list of the administration. During his last term in office, however, his administration proved that his reassurance on the issue of medicinal and illegal cannabis cultivation and distribution was unfounded. More raids on dispensaries have occurred under Obama's first term as President than over the entire term of 43rd President, George W. Bush. Read the Story on Huffington Post Here With two States now pounding out State legislation to respect the will of the voting majority in respect to recreational marijuana business regulations, eight [8] more States have had legislation filed to legalize the adult consumption of cannabis for all purposes. These include: Rhode Island Vermont Massachusetts Maryland Nevada Maine Oregon Pennsylvania Hawaii had a bill to legalize that has already been defeated and Nevada's appointed committee has vowed to let their legalization bill die in committee. Without serious grassroots support, many of the other bills may suffer the same fate. It is important to note that without a gigantic outcry of voters, local and State politicians will not fear for their re-election should they oppose these bills, or just let them die in the committee without a hearing. Be sure to contact your elected officials via email or phone to let them know that this cause is important to you. There are petitions for all of these bills available through a quick search on Change.org.