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> My comment is that making the 2024 election a referendum on legalization My take is that most people don't see cannabis legalization as an important-enough i
by BossingAround 4y ago
> My comment is that making the 2024 election a referendum on legalization
My take is that most people don't see cannabis legalization as an important-enough issue. It's kind of "would be nice" issue that's overweighted by issues like economy, democracy, and immigration.
I'm not in the US, but that's my only explanation for why hasn't cannabis been legalized on the federal level yet, i.e. that people simply don't care enough about it to even be a part of the discussion.
- gamegoblin 4y agoThat's totally possible. There is definitely a potential timeline where it just gets basically ignored. The big divide is really by age. Older voters (in both parties) tend to oppose it. 72% of people under 30 are pro-legalization, but only 30% of people older than 75 are. The average for all US adults is 60%. Younger voters' low turnout messes up the calculus here. But as soon as the number of young voters you'd gain exceeds the number of old voters a candidate would lose, you'll start to see this play out, and I think we're really close to that tipping point.
- glandium 4y agoWhat your percentages don't say is how many pro-legalization want it bad enough for it to matter more than other issues when considering their vote.
- pstuart 4y agoPart of the problem is that for most people the subject of legalizing cannabis is considered only in the context of "more people are going to use drugs". It needs to be framed in how much it costs society to enforce those laws (both in money and freedom).