Marijuana Legalization Gets Early Support Among Bay Area Voters
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A majority of Bay Area residents polled support Lt. Governor Newsom's state initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
The Bay Area Council poll of 1,000 area residents finds 50 percent support the initiative, 41 percent oppose it, and the remainder are undecided. Support is highest in San Francisco and the North Bay.
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San Mateo County was the only county in the Bay Area where opposition exceed support, 46 percent to 43 percent.
Supporters of legalization for recreational use were able to get the measure on the November ballot after gathering 600,000 signatures, far more than the 365,880 needed.
If approved, the measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes and grow up to six plants. It would also tax retail sales of marijuana at 15 percent. Local communities would be allowed to opt out of licensing retail sales.
A measure that would have legalized marijuana in 2010 failed statewide.
