On October 21, 2010, there was an article called California voters turning against Prop. 19 and Prop. 23, poll shows by John Hoeffel and Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times. They referred to a poll of 1,067 likely voters taken October 10-17 by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), which had margin of error of +/- 3.5%.
They wrote that 49% were against Prop 19 and 44% in favor. They said opposition to Prop 19 has "surged" since a September 19-26 poll, when 52% of likely voters were in favor of Prop 19. As of Sep 19-26, 63% of Latinos were in favor of Prop 19; as of Oct 10-17 51% of Latinos oppose Prop 19.
Mark Baldassare said opponents appeared more passionate about the issue. Hoeffel and Roosevelt wrote "Among likely voters who said the legalization issue was very important to them, 33% planned to vote for it and 63% against it."
According to the Oct 10-17 poll, in Los Angeles County, 41% of likely voters supported Prop 19 vs 56% in September. In Southern California, 42% of likely voters supported Prop 19 vs 52% in September.
On October 21, 2010 there was a blog post on the Los Angeles Times called Latino support for marijuana legalization is eroding, poll finds. Is Prop. 19 doomed?. It referred to the Oct 10-17 PPIC poll, again saying that 49% oppose Prop 19 and 44% support Prop 19. And 51% of Latinos oppose Prop 19 vs 63% in September.
On October 22, 2010 a blog post by Shelby Grad called Republicans, women, older voters fueling opposition to marijuana legalization in California, new poll finds appeared on the Los Angeles Times website.
She said Republicans overwhelmingly oppose Prop 19. And there is also a large age gap. Likely voters under 40 support Prop 19 48% to 37%, but likely voters 65 and over, oppose Prop 19 59% to 28%. Women also oppose Prop 19.
On October 22, 2010 an article by Ann M. Simmons was published on the Los Angeles Times website called Celebrities throw support behind measure to legalize marijuana. Days before there was a news conference at Cafe Was in Hollywood to promote Prop 19 and "draw attention to Buddhafest."
People at the news conference included Danny Glover, Melissa Etheridge, Hal Sparks, former NM governor Gary Johnson, activist Sarah Lovering, and former LAPD Deputy Chief Steven Downing.
Danny Glover said laws that criminalize marijuana are "draconian" and said African Americans and Latinos are most affected by the law, ending up in jail. Melissa Etheridge said she did not regularly use marijuana until she underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer. Etheridge has a medical marijuana license, but said she'd like to see marijuana legalized because she doesn't want to look like a criminal to her kids anymore. Gary Johnson and Steven Downing also called laws against marijuana discriminatory; the majority of marijuana users are white, while the majority of marijuana arrests are "black and brown" according to Steven Downing. Downing said passing Prop 19 would stamp out the black market for marijuana and impede drug cartels.
Alexandra Datig, an admitted former addict of cannabis and other drugs who runs the anti-Prop 19 group Nip It In The Bud 2010, stood outside Cafe Was. She handed out an open letter directed towards the entertainment community. Part of the letter said that many young people look to entertainers as role models and drug use can damage young careers.
Ted Johnson of Variety also wrote about the news conference.
Buddhafest was held Saturday October 23, 2010 from noon til 2AM at Los Angeles Center Studios in downtown Los Angeles. The Buddhafest website said the event was "neither for nor against" Prop 19, but "has set out to raise awareness." Listed guests included executive editor of High Times magazine Dan Skye, former NM governor Gary Johnson, retired LAPD Deputy Chief and LEAP member Stephen Downing, Richard Davis of the LA Hemp Museum, notable cannabis grower Jorge Cervantes, and others. Performers included Faith Evans, Bushwalla, Electric Skychurch, and others. Also on the schedule were multiple comedians, performances by dance troupes, 10 "staging areas" (which included 4 VIP areas), 60 vendors, and 100 performers. Tickets to Buddhafest were $30 before October 23rd, $40 day-of, and $300 for VIP tickets which included a free medical marijuana evaluation by CALMED420. Buddhafest was sponsored by THC Expose, Stoner Generation, Vapor Brothers, Jack Herer Awards, DNA, Sheldon Black, and Hemp Can Save The Planet.
John Hoeffel wrote another article, entitled Prop. 19 trailing badly, poll shows for the Los Angeles Times. He wrote about a telephone poll of 441 likely voters conducted Oct 13-20 as a joint effort by the LA Times and the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The poll was conducted by American Viewpoint and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner. The margin of error was +/- 4.6%.
The USC/LA Times poll found likely voters oppose Prop 19 51% to 39%. While the poll was being conducted, US Attorney General Eric Holder said the federal government would continue to enforce federal drug laws even if Prop 19 passed. Women were leaning against Prop 19 and men were split. Prop 19 is overwhelming opposed by Republicans, but favored by Democrats and independent voters. Latinos are opposed to Prop 19 two to one. Whites also oppose Prop 19.
Hoeffel wrote that likely voters 65 and older were 59% to 28% opposed to Prop 19. Likely voters under 40 are 48% to 37% in favor of Prop 19.
He wrote that Prop 19 is favored only in Central Coast counties and far behind in Southern California and Central Valley.
Hoeffel said Prop 19 supporters haven't raised enough money to run TV ads statewide. Opponents and supporters of Prop 19 both consider mothers a key swing vote. Hoeffel said the Oct 13-20 poll was the "second public survey this week to find Proposition 19 failing", referring to the Oct 10-17 PPIC poll.
On October 21, 2010 an article called Is California's Pot Legalization Movement Faltering? appeared on the CBS News website, written by Stephanie Condon. She referred to the PPIC poll, which showed 44% in favor, 49% opposed, and 7% undecided, an 8% drop in support from a September poll by PPIC which showed 52% in favor. PPIC CEO and President Mark Baldassare said if voters hear mixed signals regarding ballot initiatives they typically vote against them.
Condon also wrote that an automated poll by SurveyUSA showed that 48% supported Prop 19 and 44% opposed, which was more opposition than previous SurveyUSA polls.
Condon noted that Jerry Brown, Dianne Fenstein, and Barbara Boxer oppose Prop 19, and the California Democratic Party decided to stay neutral on it.
She wrote that current chairman and former CEO of Progressive Peter B. Lewis donated over $200,000 in favor of Prop 19. (According to search queries, some people visiting this blog have wondered if car insurance rates will increase if Prop 19 passes.) However, the LA Times lists Peter B. Lewis of Avon Lake, OH as donating $159,005 to a PAC. (Progresive is headquartered in Mayfield Village, OH.) And a Peter Lewis of Coconut Grove, FL as donating $50,000. The LA Times has a great webpage that follows Prop 19 campaign contributions. (CSV of all of them) As of October 25, 2010, the LA Times site reports that $2,766,885 has been donated in support of Prop 19, and $248,499 has been donated in opposition to Prop 19. Wikipedia says Lewis was arrested for possession of marijuana in New Zealand in January 2000 and charged, pleading guilty to 3 charges and ended up paying a fine. Wikipedia also says that his lawyer Marie Dyhrberg said that after the partial amputation of Lewis's leg in 1998, Lewis used marijuana for pain relief on the advice of his doctor.
Condon also wrote that David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps donated $100,000 along with a hemp clothing company. She also noted how two unions endorsed Prop 19, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and Service Employees International Union.
Condon wrote how the blog FireDogLake and the group Students for Sensible Drug Policy, behind the pro-Prop 19 Just Say Now campaign, are targeting voters under 30 by phone, and Jon Perri, associate director of SSDP said the response had been "overwhelmingly supportive." Some young people were concerned that Prop 19 would disrupt current homegrowers.
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