And the beat goes on (Part 1) … The latest figures on marijuana arrests are out: In 2016 there were 653,249 tallied arrests for marijuana in the U.S., 587,700 of them for simple possession… In 2015 there were 574,641 arrests for simple possession… There were more people arrested for simple possession of pot in 2016 than for all “Part I” crimes combined, Part I crimes are the ones the FBI classifies as violent… Now that really makes you feel safer, doesn’t it…
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And the beat goes on (Part 2) … Meanwhile support for legalization continues to grow around the country… The latest poll from Connecticut, a state that doesn’t allow legalization initiatives but does have a horrendous budget deficit, found that whopping 70.6 percent of those surveyed favored legalizing and taxing marijuana “as an alternative source of revenue.”… A similar poll taken in 2015 found that 63 percent of Connecticut voters favored legalization… The polls were conducted by Sacred Heart University Institute of public policy… In Utah another poll, this one taken by The Salt Lake Tribune and the University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics, shows continued robust support for a 2018 ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana; 75 percent of Utah voters either strongly or somewhat supported the initiative… A poll taken in July found 77 percent favored the initiative… Last January a Tribune-Hinckley Institute poll found 54 percent support… New Jersey doesn’t allow marijuana legalization initiatives, but this year’s election to replace outgoing drug war dead-ender Governor Chris Christy amounts to one… Democratic candidate Phil Murphy has pledged to sign a legalization bill into law within the first 100 days of taking office if elected… Democrats in the state’s legislature appear to have the votes to pass the bill… Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Murphy’s Republican opponent, is against legalization but favors decriminalizing pot possession… Three likely voter polls taken earlier this month show Murphy with leads of 14 to 25 percent depending on the poll… Both candidates have favorability ratings that suck; according to a Monmouth University poll, only 33 percent have a favorable view of Murphy, while 31 percent have a favorable view of Guadagno… on the other hand, a Quinnipiac University poll taken last month found 57 percent of New Jerseyans have a favorable view of legalizing marijuana…
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And the beat goes on (Part 3) … Politicians and politician wannabes (sometimes called candidates) continue to come out in support of legalization… In Kentucky there’s been a big coming out; Republican State Senator Dan Malano Seum has announced he will sponsor a bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana… Seum has been a state senator of 20 years, and he’s caucus chairman for the State Senate’s Republicans, so he has some clout and this is a big deal… In Illinois, Democratic candidates for governor in next year’s election held a debate recently in which most came out for marijuana legalization, and only one opposed it… Entrepreneur and philanthropist J. B. Pritzker and State Senator Daniel Biss both said they support legalizing pot in Illinois, saying it’s a matter of keeping people out of the criminal justice system… Madison County regional schools Superintendent Bob Daiber said he would be willing to support legalization, but would want the people to approve it in a referendum… Businessman Chris Kennedy said he was “for full decriminalization” (whatever that means) but also called for a study by the University of Illinois of marijuana’s effects… the only candidate to oppose legalization was Activist Tio Hardiman… In New York City, independent mayoral candidate Mike Tolkin said he was “100 percent in support of marijuana legalization.”… “It has turned into a plus for my campaign,” he said. “Other primary candidates have jumped on board after I was outspoken on the issue.”… Tolkin got a lot of press recently by going homeless for a week in front of New York City Hall.
