Mandatory Sentences on Dealers Was Proposed by Tories

CANNABIS CULTURE - A slim majority of Americans favour the legalisation, taxing, and regulation of marijuana, according to a new poll released yesterday.Mainstream cable news channels continue to seriously address the issue of marijuana legalization on a daily basis. As the drug-related violence in Mexican border towns continue, and more US politicians call for a wider debate, mainstream news networks have been seriously discussing the legalization of drugs as a solution to growing gang violence. CNN, CNBC, and even Fox News have been increasingly featuring drug law reform advocates as guests, and actually giving them a chance to explain their positions!

The poll is the first time more than 50% of Americans have favoured legalisation, said Bruce Mirken, communications director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a thinktank that supports decriminalising the drug. The Obama administration said recently it would no longer prosecute medical marijuana providers who are otherwise in compliance with state law, though the president does not favour outright legalisation. In Massachusetts, voters in November decriminalised possession of an ounce or less of the drug. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently said the time is right for a debate on marijuana legalisation. The survey was conducted by Zogby and the O'Leary Report, a conservative publication.

On CNBC, Marijuana Policy Project's Rob Kampia debated former Bush and Clinton drug policy advisor Kevin Sabet on the absurdity of marijuana prohibition. Remarkably, the host repeatedly pressed Sabet on his incorrect statistics and unsupported assertions. "This new survey continues the recent trend of strong and growing support for taxing and regulating marijuana and ending the disastrously failed policy of prohibition," Rob Kampia, Marijuana Policy Project executive director, said in a statement. Respondents were asked:

Scarce law enforcement and prison resources, a desire to neutralize drug cartels and the need for new sources of revenue have resurrected the topic of legalizing marijuana. Proponents say it makes sense to tax and regulate the drug while opponents say that legalization would lead marijuana users to use other illegal drugs. Would you favor or oppose the government's effort to legalize marijuana?

CNN's Jack Cafferty, who recently penned a poignant article titled "The War on Drugs is Insane", asked viewers if legalizing marijuana is the answer to the government's money problem. All of the responses were positive.

Also on CNN, Congressman Barney Frank, who has cosponsored recent pro-marijuana and hemp bills, put a big smile on Lou Dobb's face when he referring to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recent calls for a marijuana legalization debate. Frank said, "when people in my business say it's time for a debate, it generally means that they are for something that they're afraid isn't popular enough yet."

Finally, on Fox News, activist Mason Tvert of SAFER stood his ground against a barrage of prohibitionist propaganda from 'addiction specialist' Dr. Harold Urschel and Fox stooge Brian Kilmeade. Fox wasn't as pot-friendly as the other networks but still gave the issue a chance - and a week earlier broadcast a debate about medical marijuana between two religious leaders.

Of the 3,919 American surveyed, 52% favour legalising the drug, while 37% oppose it. The poll advances slightly from one taken last week by ABC News and the Washington Post, in which 46% favour legalisation compared to 52% who oppose.