Prop. 19: Youth vote considered key in marijuana legalization battle [Updated]

Backers of Proposition 19 are counting on a big youth vote in their uphill battle to legalize marijuana in California.

Although polls show Proposition 19 trailing, backers told The Times' John Hoeffel and Maria L. LaGanga this week that the polls could be missing infrequent voters and young voters who might come out to the polls specifically for the measure.

"This is something tangible in their hands that they can do tomorrow that will have immediate impact," said Dale Sky Jones, a spokeswoman for the Yes on 19 campaign.

The most recent Los Angeles Times/USC poll suggested a significant generation gap when it comes to Proposition 19.

Likely voters younger than 40 are in favor of it by 48% to 37%, but older voters, who say they are more enthusiastic about voting in this election, are not. Among likely voters 65 and older, only 28% support the measure, while 59% said they were opposed, according to the poll.

According to the Times/USC poll, likely voters opposed the measure 51% to 39%.

The measure, which needs a majority vote to pass, would allow Californians who are at least 21 to grow up to 25 square feet of marijuana and possess up to an ounce. Cities and counties could authorize commercial cultivation and sales, and could impose taxes.

Will a big youth vote be enough to save Proposition 19? Share your views.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Don Bartletti / L.A. Times

 

Comments

[EL]

- IF IT DOES NOT PASS TODAY IT WILL PASS ONE DAY -

[Wakata]

How bout instead of speculating we just wait a few more hours

[Sorana]

I think it's interesting that so many people against Prop 19 are arguing that it would make kids more likely to smoke marijuana because it'll make it "OK." But studies showed teen use did not increase in states where it was legalized for medical use! http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=001557

[Kevin]

There is NO WAY that those numbers are true. Does it make sense that 19 is ahead up until 2 weeks ago and then makes such a dramatic reversal? This is the result of a manipulation.

[Joseph]

So What Did They Decide About Prop. 19? I Hope It Passes!!

[Bob Ficalora]

There are 3 types of lies:

Lies,
Damn lies, and
Statistics - including polls.
Questionable polls ofter precede questionable vote counts.

The core issue is the sovereign rights and liberties of the people. The war on drugs is a pretext for intrusive police powers and it must end.

People of all politial persuasions know this. I don't believe the polls. If the vote on Prop 19 is properly counted it will win.

[Paul Francis]

Amanda G-

If you think marijuana is just about relaxing, I pray that you cease speaking on the topic. Uneducated people, like yourself, who blurb about issues they haven't bothered researching, don't deserve a place on this comment board and should certainly back Prop 19. Because if it passes, maybe you'll step outside of your box and look at life from a new angle.

Best,

- P

[Steve]

To Michael White: this isn't about keeping California "clean." Marijuana is already here and it's here to stay. Prop 19 won't "dirty" our state, it will redirect billions of dollars from the black market to our schools and infrastructure.

Also, by legalizing, Marijuana will be much less of a "gateway" drug. The gateway myth only exists because Marijuana is illegal, meaning some people buy from a drug dealer who also sells harder drugs. By separating Marijuana from the black market, it ceases to have a connection to other illegal drugs.

Legalization can only help. I'm proud to have voted yes on 19 today.

[JG]

Age and generation are something to take into account. You have people who grew up when the government was telling you you'd lose your mind after smoking pot for 30 days, horrendous racial claims I won't even mention, and countless other lies. It is rational for them to say no.

Notice what the polls showed in the article. Below a certain age were more in favor. Over a certain age were opposed.

Eventually they'll die off, and you won't have anyone left who believes the government's lies and fear mongering.

[Brett Szmanda]

For Amanda Gonzalez,

I feel it is you that has the sad life, Amanda. Who are you to judge other people for anything. The importance of prop 19 has absolutely nothing to do with societies moral character or what people need or need not do in order to be happy. The importance of this measure is that it was put on the ballot by the people of California, it will be voted into law by the people of California, and it will be enjoyed by the people of California. It is a statement by our nations largest state that the federal government should stay out of matters which are proper for the states to decide. Try to think about the deeper issues involved next time you decide to chastise a large portion of the population for partaking in an activity which you obviously know nothing about.

[reuven]

calling people whites or blacks makes them seem so insignificant, don't you think?

[KK]

Teens are going to vote on Prop 19? Foolishness. Shenanigans. Uneducated 18 and 19 year olds are going to ruin it all for the sake of doing something that won't be fun anymore once its legal. So whats the point once the thrill for most teens of doing it because its illegal is gone?

[dave]

Im under 40 and voted no... not because I want pot to be illegal, but because the prop hasn't been thought through. What measures will be made to ensure that I don't get hit by a stoner while Im sitting at a red light? Once they come out with a concrete plan on how excess use will be policed, Im gonna continue to vote no.

[donewntcrzy]

Ny times is showing polls against it because of Obama telling the media not to hype up the legalization of Marijuana but to go against it.Your only allowed to take synthitic Heroin..Oxyconton or synthetic Opium..Vicodin because the government figured out a way to profit from it.Its the governments way of dealing Opium and Heroin to you.Why in one country our soldiers die to protect marijuana fields and in our own country we kill our own people for marijuana by throwing them in prison for a lifetime or raiding their houses and killing someone. Really for Marijuana????

[Bob]

Come on Californians, you guys are on the cusp of making history today. Don't let the rest of the country down!

[UC Kid]

this isn't about people "getting high"; it's about the state being able to regulate and tax an already blatantly available black market. One that's making $14 Billion a year, of which some of that could towards helping our students pay for college and keeping our schools from laying off even more teachers. I voted yes today for this reason.

[KK]

IT will remain on the black market. Prop 19 limits the amount you have, and just like all Americans,people will always want more, more, MORE. Although Im sure there are the responsible individuals who will handle this appropriately.

Advocates love to argue against how its better than alternatives like alcohol, which is legal and may cause much more harm in one way or another. The other end of that thought is that marijuana has its side effects and impairment as well.

Think of the future and the effect this may have on the country in the long run, as in 20 years. Its not all smiles and smoke.

[jen]

To that lady people that rent also pay taxes that does not make any sense. And what do u say about smokes people that dont smoke could get second hand smoke. So if u dont like it dont do it or be around it. It should be ur choice to do whatever u want to do with ur body and like they say this is supposed to be a free country yeah right. Prop 19 yes

[Brian]

I have a question for everyone who is voting yes on Prop. 19. What's your opinion on a state like Arizona passing a law to protect their borders and go after illegal aliens? You better support Arizona. No fair saying that's a Federal issue. Illegal drugs are exactly the same. There are Federal laws that deal with drugs and states can't pass laws that override them. Put that in your bongs and smoke it.

[Colin]

@ Amanda Gonzalez

If you need marijuana to "relax" it's sad? What's the difference between this and the people who have a drink or two every couple of nights to relax?
Also, think about this. A great deal of Americans rely on prescription drugs to help them "relax". America is way too dependent on prescription medicine. Whenever a lot of people are feeling down, they take some sort of prescription medication to ease whatever they're feeling. Next thing you know, some people are taking 3 or 4 medications to treat the same symptoms which is terrible on the liver. Many people still drink on these medications despite the warnings and cause themselves great harm as a result. But yet when someone wants to use a substance that has very little side effects its wrong? There is a great deal of misconception surrounding marijuana use, simply because it is taboo and illegal. Legalize it and let the truth be revealed.

[fick]

if its legalized, instead of all the smokers giving their money to gangs and drug dealers, it goes to the US....wake up people!!! smokers will smoke either way, so make it a safer for us

[Alliey]

First of all if people were concerned with the legalization of marijuana causing accidents they should be even more concerned with the fact that alcohol is legal and kills innocent people behind the wheel all the time. The legalization of Marijuana would bring revenue to a declining economy. There are 10,000 non violent marijuana related arrests per hour in this country which is costing the tax payers more in the end. It needs to stop! I've heard some say that they will continue to make room for these non violent drug offenders. There is much money to be made on the illegalization of marijuana just like prohibition of alcohol; however, we know now prohibition doesnt work. George Washington himself had a hemp farm. The cotton industry and oil industries had much to do with illegalization of marijuana during the industrial revolution as naturally hemp is stronger than cotton and cars can also run on hemp oil which is a cheap renewable natural resource. Which now brings me to the privitization of prisons which make rich men much more money. First of all their stock percentages are based on the number of inmates and unfortunately in this private prisons there is even more money to be made by hiring inmates for outside jobs in which the prisons get paid 10$ an hour off of each inmate then in return paying them one dollar a day. Also getting inmates who are already in desperate situations to volunteer to work on a chain gang and get a day taken off their sentence for every week they work. If you really know the facts behind the illegalization of marijuana it would make you sick to your stomach. I call it modern day slavery and a personal attack on poverty stricken people. Records show most inmates are financially inept while the rich on the other hand get out of it more often. This is a personal attack on the poor who generally cant afford lawyers and have to often resort to public defenders or should I say public pretenders who work in the interest of the courts not the people. If we want to better our economy and see the money ourselves we need to legalize marijuana because the illegalization of it is only making the rich more wealthy.

[Caleb Vogt]

I wont lie, I am worried that all the supporters of Prop 19 will show up to the polls blazed and that they will all accidentally vote against it.... Hopefully not. Good luck from Washington D.C. all you Californians.

[Captain Canuck]

A lot of us north of the 49th are awaiting the results of prop. 19 with great interest. You're the bell cow California. That legal drug, alcohol, causes infinitely more harm than marijuana. Hard drugs are different but it's long past time that the Draconian marijuana laws were repealed. As added bonuses the criminal element will be removed from the picture, marijuana will be subject to regulation and a fortune in tax revenue will be added to state coffers in a period of severe economic hardship. Seems like passing prop. 19 is a win-win situation.

[Wes]

All I see happening if marijuana becomes legal is the elimination of the black market. no black market means no criminals. No criminals means a smaller prison population. Legal weed will decrease the prison pop. and lessen the tax payer burden to feed, clothe, shelter and "reform" these people. I don't smoke, but pot is no more harmful than drinking too much, which is a huge problem in America. The negative attitudes toward marijuana are fundamentally rooted in old school racism and fear-mongering of the Christian Right during the Reagan years.

I don't know, to me a State of California with fewer criminals is a better State of California.