A new poll by Angus Reid confirms that the support for marijuana tax and regulation is indeed growing. The poll, sampling 1004 American voters, found that 53% of those responded believe that marijuana should be legalized. This is a nearly 10 point increase from a poll conducted by Gallup (look at the title of the poll) a couple of months ago found that 44% favored marijuana legalization. Among other questions conducted by Angus Reid, the poll also found that 68% of respondents believe that the war on drugs is a failure -- but 8% of Republicans and, interestingly, 11% of Democrats believe it to be a success.

The issue with these polls is that they are not properly nuanced. Neither poll (Angus nor Gallup) offered marijuana legalization specifics; they just simply asked the question if marijuana should be legalized. It may be the case that if a more detailed question was asked -- such as asking if treating marijuana with the same regulations as alcohol and cigarettes with age and place restrictions introduced -- may garner even more support of lifting marijuana prohibition. It would also be interesting to ask whether the respondents had smoked marijuana themselves, knew anyone who smoked marijuana, or ever been arrested for marijuana possession. So if anyone wants to know these answers and more, please send me $15 grand to hire a pollster -- it is tax deductible and the end of the year is approaching fast.

The poll also measured responses to the legalization of other drugs; the results are not too surprising: