Detroit Free Press: Michigan voters support use of medical marijuana, stem cells

[marmar]

Michigan voters support use of medical marijuana, stem cells
BY DAWSON BELL and MEGHA SATYANARAYANA • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS • September 30, 2008


Proposals to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes and to ease restrictions on stem-cell research using human embryos are favored by a majority of Michigan voters, a Detroit Free Press-Local 4 Michigan Poll shows.

But political analysts and history suggest backers of the two measures, especially Proposal 2 on stem-cell research, shouldn't feel comfortable just yet.

" 'No' vote campaigns are easier, and they can come late," said Ann Selzer of Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, who conducted the poll last week.

Michigan voters appear to be relatively well-settled on their support of medical marijuana, Selzer said. But the stem-cell issue is potentially volatile.

Opponents of Proposal 2 like to recall Proposal B in 1998, a measure to legalize assisted suicide. Early polls showed support for Proposal B at more than 60%, and it remained ahead (48%-43%) in a late September poll, before losing 71%-29%.

The new poll also showed support for Proposal 1, which allows the cultivation and use of marijuana by patients with serious medical conditions such as cancer and glaucoma, at 66%, with 25% opposed and 9% undecided.

Proposal 2 was supported by 58%, with 31% opposed and 11% undecided. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/NEWS06/809300354

[LiberadorHugo]

1. Interesting...

Do you think the existence of these ballot initiatives will increase liberal turn-out in MI?

[marmar]

2. Yes.....but it might also increase participation by the fundies on the west side of the state.

But the polling trends here are very good....Obama's lead is up to 13 percentage points.

[High Plains]

3. Good. Michigan will be the first medical marijuana state in the Midwest.

Then we'll be eying an Ohio initiative in 2010.

Meanwhile, state legislators in Illinois and Minnesota have been making progress on bills in those states, too.

Medical marijuana states now: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and a few more I can't remember.

[Tesla]

4. if they legalized and taxed pot

they could pay for the bailout!

[High Plains]

5. It would certainly be a revenue generator.

Not to mention added munchies sales figures.

[OakCliffDem]

6. I support not only medical marijuana, but the complete legalization of it