Marijuana Legalization Movement Courting Moms To Back Prop. 64
(KPIX 5) – For 20 years now, political pundits have been talking about, and obsessing over, "soccer moms." But this year, they could be the key to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
From his Los Angeles home, longtime marijuana activist Kyle Kushman is on the air, talking politics.
Specifically, he's talking Proposition 64 on his marijuana-themed podcast "The Grow Show." He'd be the first to admit, he spends a lot of time preaching to the choir.
"I am definitely for Prop. 64," said Kushman, declaring his support for the ballot measure that would legalize marijuana for adult use in California.
Kushman is also a renowned marijuana grower, now positioning himself for a world post-Proposition 64.
Inside a shipping container in an undisclosed location in Los Angeles he has about 125 young plants growing. To get those plants legalized for recreational use, however, he's going to need help from someone you might consider an unlikely ally.
"'Soccer Mom' is going to vote yes," declared Kushman.
The "Soccer Mom" was the darling of the 1996 presidential campaign, and truth is, she never really went away.
After the 9/11 attacks, the voting group was declared "Security Moms." In 2008, Sarah Palin declared herself a "Hockey Mom."
Whatever you call them, 2016 could be called the 20th anniversary of the "Soccer Mom," a phrase used to describe mothers, often middle class and moderate in their politics, who vote based on what they feel is best for their children and their families.
This year, that's the demographic that will very likely decide Prop. 64.
"Voters with children are more likely to be in opposition," said Doug Linney, who knows a little bit about trying to get marijuana legalized.
Linney was the campaign consultant for Prop. 19 in 2010.
"It didn't work out. [We] got close, closer than a lot of people expected us to get," Linney recalled.
Prop. 19 lost with 46.5 percent of voters casting "yes" votes. Linney blames that loss on one specific problem: "The parent issue. Soccer Moms, if you will."
It's no coincidence the Yes on 64 campaign just rolled out an ad featuring a woman described as a "California Mom."
Meanwhile, 64's opponents are aiming for the very same audience with ads warning parents about possible threats to children.
So how will parents vote? An exclusive KPIX 5/Survey USA poll shows 48 percent of Californians with children under the age of 18 in favor of legalization. It's important to remember that Prop. 64 doesn't need a clear majority of those voters, it just need enough of them.
"I certainly don't want my kids to smoke pot, but I also think that we will raise our kids to make good choices, and educate them," said Margaret Garrou, someone who could be called a "Baseball Mom."
So where did she land? "I voted yes."
That might be the story Tuesday night. If just enough Soccer/Hockey/Baseball Moms vote yes, it could very well be enough to push Prop. 64 towards victory.
In that, longtime marijuana activists see a shifting of the tide. As Kushman explains it; "People have been asking me for years, when I think we are going to legalize marijuana. I always say, 'when we're ready for it, when society is ready for it.'"
Watching her son on the baseball diamond, Garrou agrees. "Yeah, it kind of seems like the tide is going that way."