Cannabis To The Rescue???

All the talk about the ever closer election has been surrounding how motivated the Tea Party and Republicans are and how unmotivated progressives and Democrats have been.  Several news outlets recently reported that marijuana may be coming to the rescue.   This November, California votes on Proposition 19, which would legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for recreational use.  Interestingly, California also has the highest percentage of expected voters under the age of thirty.  Democrats in other parts of the country are beginning to notice.

According to the Wall Street Journal’s Peter Wallsten, Democratic pollster Andrew Myers found in a December 2009 survey in Colorado that 45% of Obama “surge voters”—people voting for the first time in 2008—said they would be more interested in turning out again if marijuana legalization were on the ballot. “If you are 18 to 29, it’s far and away the most compelling reason to go out and vote,” Mr. Myers said.

Colorado, Washington, and Nevada (all swing states crucial to President Obama’s reelection) already have groups mobilizing to get ballot measures for legalization in place for 2012.  They believe that if they can motivate a largely apathetic but usually liberal voting bloc, then they can build momentum in crucial swing states.  It’s not a guarantee by any means; ballot measures usually don’t have a large impact on voter turn-out.  However, in close races a divisive and emotional issue can be the decider i.e. Same-Sex Marriage Bans in 2004.

KindReviews will continue to follow and report on this important issue that could be a win-win for progressives and cannabis fans alike.  Please remember to vote in November!