Zogby Poll: 72% of Voters Want Obama to End DEA Medical Marijuana Raids
California NORML Press Release - Feb 4th, 2009
Los Angeles Protest Rally - Thurs.
Feb 5th, Noon, Federal Courthouse
While the DEA continues to stage medical marijuana raids in
California, nearly three-quarters of voters think President Obama
should honor his campaign pledge to end the raids, according to a
poll of 1,053 likely voters by
Zogby International.
In a question sponsored by NORML, voters were asked: During
the presidential campaign,
Barack Obama said he would stop federal
raids against medical marijuana providers in the 13 states where
medical marijuana has become legal. Should President Obama keep his
word to end such raids?
Response: Yes - 72% No - 21% Not sure - 7%.
Yes votes outnumbered No by over 2 to 1 in all geographic,
political, and demographic groups. The poll, conducted Jan 29-31,
had a margin error of +/-3.1%.
In view of Obama's pledge to end federal medical marijuana
raids, advocates have been disappointed by the fact that they have
continued since Jan. 20th. Yesterday , the DEA raided four LA-area
medical marijuana dispensaries : Venice Alternative Healing, Marina
Caregivers, Alternative Caregivers Discount
Dispensary, and the
Beach Center Collective (contrary to initial reports, a fifth
dispensary wasn't raided). The raids were all "smash and grab"
operations, in which agents took medicine and cash, destroyed
surveillance cameras, and grabbed computers, but did not arrest
anyone.
California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer denounced the DEA
for "unprofessional and piratical conduct" and is calling on
supporters to urge President Obama to end the raids.
A rally to protest the DEA raids will be held
on Thursday,
Feb 5th at noon at the LA federal building, 255 E. Temple St.
Release by Dale Gieringer, Coordinator, California NORML
(415) 563-5858--
Dale Gieringer -
dale@canorml.orgCalifornia NORML,
2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114 -
(415) 563- 5858 -
www.canorml.org