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* A recent national poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports found that 51 percent of American adults believe alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana.
A mere 19 percent said pot is more dangerous than booze…
Younger adults are more likely than their elders to view alcohol as the more dangerous of the two.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of women say alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana, compared to 48% of men.
In the crosstabs, it looks like even a plurality of senior citizens think alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana, 35 percent vs. 22 percent, with 33 percent saying they’re both equally dangerous. The poll found that about a quarter of all respondents thought that both were equally dangerous, with 2 percent saying neither were dangerous.
57 percent of Democrats said booze was more dangerous, while 45 percent of Republicans agreed. Just 14 percent of Dems said pot was more dangerous while 25 percent of Republicans concurred with that statement.
In fact, not a single identified demographic group believed that pot was more dangerous than booze. Not one.
1,000 adults surveyed August 26-27, 2009 with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 2:38 pm
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===In fact, not a single identified demographic group believed that pot was more dangerous than booze. Not one.===
Rasmussen must have skipped lawmakers as a demographic group.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 2:48 pm
Good point.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 2:50 pm
If you were to ask the previous Governor, he’d probably say the lawmakers were too drunk to answer the poll anyway.
Comment by Captain Flume Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:10 pm
IMO, Marijuana and Alcohol are equally dangerous when used in excess. Furthermore, just because people think marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol is no justification to legalize pot.
Bullfighting is less dangerous than drunk driving, therefore lets legalize bullfighting, that seems to be the logic.
Comment by Speaking At Will Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:17 pm
One day the criminality will be removed and people will wonder what the fuss was all about.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:18 pm
rich: you are like the woody harrelson of political bloggers.
Comment by lg Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:19 pm
The tax revenue that is lost will start to become really compelling to lawmakers if they beleive there will be no political cost to legalization. Time to invest in bong futures.
Comment by Bluefish Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:20 pm
lg, too funny. Unlike Woody, I do not partake. I just think it’s stupid to lock people up for it.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:21 pm
Speaking at Will,
Does that mean you’d favor criminalizing alcohol?
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:21 pm
Encouraging study. Problem is majority of people do not view alcohol as a “drug”. It is in its own category called alcohol. The social acceptance around getting drunk is astounding.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:24 pm
=I just think it’s stupid to lock people up for it.=
Hard to argue with that.
I think this is a gateway issue. If you legalize mairjuana that is a gateway to legalizing all the rest of the illicit drugs. We are expanding gambling in this state so that we can tax what is already being done illegally (video poker). Why not pot?
I know that the differences between pot and alcohol are noteworthy. Pot is not a physically addictive drug (psychological dependence aside, of course). And, I have not heard of one case where any person has died as a result of a pot overdose. So, in those respects, pot is not as “dangerous” as alcohol. It is a distraction for those who partake. I believe a person high on pot is more likely to get into a car accident. I have not seen statistics to support or exclude that.
I know that pot can make one “stupid”, (personal, anecdotal experience) and take away some self motivational drive. Used occasionally that would not be a problem. It is possible, perhaps, that it could be controlled, like alcohol and tobacco (illegal for persons under 21 y/o, not allowed while driving). If regulated and controlled it could be a boon to tax revenues. But is that a good enough reason to expand the list of legal intoxicants?
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:41 pm
It’s time for that important ethnic group, Herbal Americans, to stagger up for what they believe in…then go out for munchies.
Seriously,anyone who wants the stuff can get it if they want to.
It’s growing wild in the forest preserves.
Two weeks ago they had a “seized” pot bonfire about three blocks from my house in the preserves.
There sure were a lot of happy joggers and motorists that day!
Sell it from licensed merchants with similar restrictions as tobacco, cough medicine, and alcohol, and at least some of the proceeds may do some good, as well as reduce drug trafficking from South of the Border.
Comment by PalosParkBob Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:44 pm
Anonymous,
You put your finger on the most important impediment to legalization/decriminalization. Booze ain’t a drug. (It can be broken down further - “I ain’t an alcoholic - all I drink is beer”)
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 3:52 pm
Legalize it - don’t criticize it
Legalize it and i will advertise it
Some call it tampee
Some call it the weed
Some call it Marijuana
Some of them call it Ganja
Legalize it - don’t criticize it
Legalize it and i will advertise it
Singer smoke it
And players of instruments too
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
That’s the best thing you can do
Doctors smoke it
Nurses smoke it
Judges smoke it
Even the lawyers too
Legalize it - don’t criticize it
Legalize it and i will advertise it
It’s good for the flu
It’s good for asthma
Good for tuberculosis
Even umara composis
Legalize it - don’t criticize it
Legalize it and i will advertise it
Bird eat it
And they leave it
Fowls eat it
Goats love to play with it
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 4:05 pm
Poll: Majority believes alcohol more dangerous than marijuana
Naturally! Have you ever had anyone ever go at you with a broken beer bottle? Dangerous? You betcha!
Now the potheads, they never attack. They sit in the corner and giggle, eat popcorn and go “Whoa Dude!” when you get attacked by the drunk with the broken beer bottle.
Alcoholics work when they are drunk. They operate heavy machinery, they drink their lunches, the return to work to vomit all around the worksites. But potheads - they don’t work while stoned, because they often don’t have enough motivation to find a damn job. They sit in their parent’s basements and talk about how they have to get up and find a job. Then they talk some more about finding a snack after finding their pants.
Alcohol is everywhere, especially in Official Utah Booze stores where they sell booze, (otherwise it isn’t around Utah). This means that people can find a drink in bars, restaurants, sports events, airplanes and even at some religious ceremonies! Alcohol is easily found.
But pot! You have to know someone who knows someone who knew someone who went to school with someone who is living in their parent’s basement to get pot! You can’t just walk into the nearest grocery store and buy some Hostess Twinkees with Banana-Marijuana Filling, now can you?
So, there are fewer stoners than boozers out there! Naturally, booze is going to look bad folks!
That doesn’t mean that pot is OK, now does it? It is just that we don’t see as many problems with pot than we do with booze.
Now let’s take another poll with similar results - What do you think is safer, airplanes or hot air balloons?
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 4:57 pm
==========
In fact, not a single identified demographic group believed that pot was more dangerous than booze.
==========
This is why I have probs with this type of survey. There’s not enough context.
“1* Which is more dangerous – alcohol or marijuana?”
What’s to say people aren’t considering e.g., availability in their answers (i.e., I think it’s pot, but because it’s not legal, there’s less use and hence, fewer probs so I’ll say alcohol)?
I can understand how one would reference the study too support legalization, but this particular poll didn’t jump out at me.
Comment by Ahem...The REAL Anonymous Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 5:11 pm
Here is some foreign policy for ya; legalize heroin and win the Afghanistan war. Suddenly the taleban wouldn’t have the money they do and they wouldn’t be supported by those in the countryside. Legalize marijuana save the govt of Mexico. Thousand plus have been killed there this year alone, stuff b serious.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 5:42 pm
Meant to say leaglize cocaine as well, to save the govt of mexico
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 3, 09 @ 5:57 pm
Legalize!!!!!
Comment by THANDY Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 1:27 am
To all those who support Prohibition, do your own research on the subject. You are simply echoing what the government tells you to believe.
Prohibition puts many billions of $$ in the hands of murderous criminals. The drug cartels in Mexico are so rich now - solely due to US Prohibition - they own helicopters and submarines.
If Prohibition is not stopped now Mexico will likely fall. When that occurs it will severely damage America. It will also increase the already overreaching power of the federal government and reduce further our individual rights.
It is immoral to put human being in cages because they choose to consume cannabis instead of alcohol within the privacy of their own home. On top of that, they are branded a criminal and receive a lifetime sentence - a criminal record that will last their lifetime.
Listen to this guy. He is one of 4 Americans that are provided medical marijuana by the Federal government - for the past 25 years.
Irv Rosenfeld’s HB 5470 Michigan Medical Marijuana Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvzX8aNwxgM
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 5:08 am
Anonymous,
I don’t get your logic. How does legalizing heroin take money out of the pockets of the Taliban? It still has to be grown, doesn’t it? As far as pot goes, with the effects of the fence on the border with Mexico decreasing the amount of pot that can easily cross the border, many growers are cultivating the pot right here in the good ole USA. Been doing that for years. How does that help the economy of Mexico?
Gang wars in this country do cost innocent lives, tho. Maybe if people created a useful life for themselves and stopped wasting it on the easy high (delayed gratification is a good thing) then there would be less demand for the stuff that makes you stupid enough not to care about what you have become. That, too, could end the violence.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 9:07 am
Call in VOTE for Medical Cannabis
973-409-3274
Call, listen, and press #
One million votes and demand
letter goes to Obama
Download Florida petition at:
http://www.pufmm.org/petition.php
Support Leap.cc - Police Against Prohibition
Comment by scottportraits Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 9:35 am
VanillaMan - Do you ever think through your arguments using that little, but important concept called logic?
“You have to know someone who knows someone who knew someone who went to school with someone who is living in their parent’s basement to get pot!”
For the record, it’s much easier than that.
Comment by Left Leaner Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 10:07 am
Right on, Barack!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 4:20 pm
I think marijuana should be legal because we should have the right to choose what we do with our own lives, just as long as we do not infringe on the rights of others. Why do I care whether or not my neighbor smokes weed? I’d rather have a mellow neighbor than a drunk loud and violent one.
Comment by Samoan Guy Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 6:50 pm
–
Right on, Barack!–
VMan, nice drive-by, Take it easy — with the gay thing yesterday, you’re showing more of your bigotry than you like. But you never fooled anyone, anyway.
Good luck with the layoffs. Obviously, the state couldn’t live without your day-to-day hard work.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 4, 09 @ 7:36 pm