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Friday, May 10, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Anybody see any problems with this question in a poll sponsored by an anti-legalization group?…

QUESTION: Currently, possessing 10 grams of marijuana – enough for about 30 joints - is not a crime in Illinois. Instead, it is a civil violation like a traffic ticket. Many people call this policy “decriminalization.” Medical marijuana use is also legal in Illinois. Knowing that personal marijuana possession is already decriminalized in Illinois, which one of the following marijuana policies do you prefer:

- Keep the current policy of decriminalization and medical marijuana

-Keep the current policy of decriminalization and medical marijuana but also allow for past misdemeanor marijuana convictions to be expunged

-Change the current policy of decriminalization by legalizing commercial production, use and sale of marijuana for recreational use

-Make all marijuana use illegal

Allow me to try.

1) Thirty “joints” in ten grams (about three-eighths of an ounce)? I haven’t rolled one of those in a very long time, but that seems like a lot. I checked the Google and California retail establishments sell pre-rolled joints of 1 gram each. So 10 grams would produce 10 California pre-rolls. I did see some articles about how joints are as small as .33 grams, but I think those would be what are commonly known as “pinners.”

2) That’s a pretty darned detailed setup question, but it doesn’t mention that decriminalization leaves the current criminal growing and distribution network in place. Maybe I’m just asking too much on this one, though.

3) Decrim and medical are explained in the setup, but not legalization. This is truly a classic push question.

4) As far as I know, nobody has introduced a stand-alone exoneration bill, so I’m not sure why that was even tossed in there.

5) Exonerations are included in the legalization bill, but that isn’t mentioned for some mysterious reasons only known by the pollster and its anti-legalization sponsor. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And no mention of tax and fee income and new jobs from legalization even though everybody knows the state needs more revenue and employment?

Yeah. Totally reliable. The pollster is good, the question is most definitely not.

Also, they didn’t release their other questions, so we don’t know what came before that one. Some polls intended for media consumption ask highly leading questions before dropping the big one on respondents.

Also too, collar county respondents were more in favor of legalization than Cook County respondents? I have difficulty believing that.

And support has suddenly plunged?…

Just under half (47%) of those under 50 favored legalization, while a little over a third (36%) of those over 50 supported it. Both Democrats and independents were more likely to favor legalization than Republicans. The favorability was almost evenly split between white and African-American respondents, with 41% of white voters saying they support it, and 44% of black voters saying they support it. But there were more white respondents polled than African American — 74% to 16%.

The favorability rating is down from a poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted in March by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. In that poll, the highest level of support for legalizing marijuana came from Chicago, where 75% favored it, and 24% were opposed. Statewide, 66% of respondents favored or strongly favored legalization, while 32% opposed it, the Simon institute poll found.

Different pollster, much different questions, hugely different reasons for the two polls, so you cannot compare the two.

28 Comments

- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 10:24 am:
“See, I was right and approval for this is nowhere near what some people claim. The House can’t possibly pass legislation that only two-thirds of the people support” - Marty Moylan, probably

- 47th Ward - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 10:27 am:
I really admire your diligence and the time you spend researching obscure topics like this. Thanks for the links too. Very useful.

All of your homework should pay off if this bill passes and you can finally try marijuana for the first time instead of simply reading about it. Happy for you brother.

I think you’re going to like it too.

- wordslinger - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 10:32 am:
–So 10 grams would produce 10 California pre-rolls.–

Also equivalent to three Willie Nelson joints, two Snoop Dogg blunts and one Bob Marley spliff.

- Jocko - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 10:36 am:
Classic push poll. Why not make the final selection “Don’t you wish it was 1955 when life was simpler?”

- Northsider - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 10:49 am:
Ten grams is also a miniscule contribution to one “Mighty Joint.”

Let the coolness get into your vertebrae.

- Henry Francis - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 10:59 am:
The conclusion I draw from this poll is that people are not in favor of pinners.

- An American - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:09 am:
You’re the first person in the media I’ve heard fact check how much weed can go into a joint and use the term pinner.

That’s awesome.

- Kentucky Bluegrass x Featherbed Bent x Northern California Sinsemilla - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:12 am:
Somebody must have sold Moylan a bag of oregano back in the day and he has been waiting for his opportunity to get even ever since.

- Chicago Cynic - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:16 am:
“All of your homework should pay off if this bill passes and you can finally try marijuana for the first time instead of simply reading about it. Happy for you brother.”

Oh man, that is some solid humor. But surely you couldn’t be suggesting that Rich has a personal stake in the outcome of this legislation, could you? I’ve never heard him express an opinion on this topic…ever.

- Rich Miller - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:21 am:
===you couldn’t be suggesting that Rich has a personal stake in the outcome of this legislation===

I’m simply for freedom of choice.

- 47th Ward - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:24 am:
Then if you got it you don’t want it
Seems to be the rule of thumb
Don’t be tricked by what you see
You got two ways to go

I’ll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Freedom of choice

- wordslinger - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:44 am:
–The conclusion I draw from this poll is that people are not in favor of pinners.–

Known as a pin-doob in the social circles that gathered in the woods across the street from my high school.

Frowned upon, but accepted when supply was tight and demand was high.

- Skeptic - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 11:49 am:
How many one-hits in 10g? Asking for a friend.

- rocky - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:01 pm:
At least 50 Skeptic

- Langhorne - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:08 pm:
Now I am hungry

- Dotnonymous - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
Kevin Sabet…or is it Kevin SAMet?

https://www.alternet.org/2013/08/5-biggest-lies-anti-pot-propagandist-kevin-sabet/

- Illinois Resident - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:37 pm:
There is already a ton of polling to suggest that Illinois residents and USA residents want cannabis legalized. The ballot referendum results back that up.

- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:44 pm:
Sloppy reporting and headline-writing by the Sun-Times. If only they had subjected the poll to the same scrutiny and skepticism you did, Rich.

- Behind the Scenes - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:49 pm:
There’s still the issue of no way to test a driver for impairment, short of a blood test - which is hard for a cop to do on the roadside. Not to mention needing a court order. Does J.B. need the stoner vote this bad. Does Illinois really need this relatively small amount of revenue (to run this risk)?

- Illinois Resident - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:52 pm:
Behind the Scenes - You do know that problem exists today right? Cannabis is already here.

- Pundent - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
=Does Illinois really need this relatively small amount of revenue (to run this risk)?=

Other states have been able to figure it out and get comfortable with the risk. I’m not sure why it would be any more difficult here.

- Illinois Resident - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:54 pm:
Behind the Scenes - Ever hear of a roadside impairment test? This is not difficult.

- Illinois Resident - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 12:55 pm:
California is a pretty big state, how do they manage all of these risks that prohibitionists like to throw out there. Not to mention the other 9 states that are legalized.

- Grandson of Man - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
“Behind the Scenes - Ever hear of a roadside impairment test? This is not difficult.”

That is true, plus observation, seeing the driver partake and/or observing erratic driving. If any or most of these conditions are met, then do a blood test.

Plenty of people are driving stoned already. There are lots of terrible drivers who don’t consume marijuana.

- Rich Miller - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 1:28 pm:
===Does J.B. need the stoner vote this bad===

Perhaps the dumbest take ever.

He ran on the issue. Bigtime. This was no under the radar thing.

- A Jack - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 2:14 pm:
So I just measured my stash and I am a criminal by six grams of plant material. I pay huge amounts in taxes. I served my country in active military and my state in the National Guard. By any measure, I could be considered a model citizen of Illinois. But there are those who want me to remain a criminal because of six grams of plant material.

- The Dude - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 2:45 pm:
We need the money.Big time. Anyone who is against it either lives under a rock, is a big pharma, or is a cop who enjoys ruining people’s lives over a plant

- ryan - Friday, May 10, 19 @ 4:24 pm:
The Dude abides.

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