Smoke Up, Jonny Appleseed!

A record 60 percent of American adults support legalization of marijuana, according to a new Gallup poll released three weeks before voters in nine states decide whether to expand legal access to pot (PBS). That is way up from the mere 12 percent in 1969 who supported Bob Marley and Peter Tosh's call to “legalize it” (though those albums appeared in 1975).

Recreational use of marijuana is currently legal in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington state and the District of Columbia. Depending on the Election Day outcome, they could be joined by Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada. Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota will be deciding whether to allow medical marijuana use as well and Montana is pushing to ease restrictions on existing pot laws.

There is, maybe not surprisingly, a political split among supporters with a full 67 percent of Democrats in support of legalization but only 42 of Republics; and 70 percent of independents. A long battle, by scruffy dudes and dudettes over many years of getting people to sign onto their raggedy petitions has apparently paid off! 

One should expect a marked decrease in productivity and increase in munchies sales over the coming years …