A new poll revealed that the majority of California residents think the legalization of marijuana would be a good idea for the state.
According to a report from the Public Policy Institute of California, this is the first time that more than 50 percent of Golden State citizens have stated their support for the legalization of marijuana. The survey, "Californians & Their Government," released this week, showed that 52 percent of "all adults" would be open to the state legalizing the recreational use of pot.
The PPIC also found that 60 percent of prospective voters would say yes to legalizing weed if there was an initiative for it on the ballot. 68 percent of these expected voters said they didn't want the federal government going after pot users in states that allow medical weed use, which includes California.
This narrow majority is what the PPIC calls "a record high" amount of support for official weed legitimacy.
An earlier survey conducted by the California Field Poll revealed that 54 percent of California voters were okay with legalization.
"This is the highest level of support for marijuana legalization since the Field Poll began measuring California public opinion on this issue in 1969, when just 13 percent favored its legalization," the report read at the time, according to LA Weekly.
California residents might have the chance to completely free up weed use soon, as a new voter initiative to legitimize marijuana in California passed to the next round of signature collection Thursday, local news station KTVU reported.
The California Cannabis Hemp Initiative 2014 now has 150 days to round up 504,760 signatures in order to land on the November 2014 ballot. If passed, the legal effort would decriminalize the possession, use, growth and sale of both marijuana and hemp. The Legislature would be required to issue licensing and taxing laws on the commercial sales of marijuana. New laws on driving while under the influence would have to be drawn up as well.
Two medical marijuana activists are heading up the initiative.
58-year-old Berton Duzy, a contractor in Simi Valley, along with Michael Jolson, 45, a marijuana activist based in Santa Cruz, said that more than 500 volunteers are working toward legalization, led by a core body of about 10 to 15.
"We honestly feel this plant can help transform and sustain humankind," Jolson told KTVU.
"I'm optimistic because of the enthusiasm we're getting from people who want this legalized," Duzy added. "Put it to the people and let the people decide."
