Democrats Consider Motivating Voters With Marijuana in 2012

Democratic strategists have their eye on marijuana as a way to get out the youth vote in 2012, reports the Wall Street Journal. California's Proposition 19, which would legalize the drug in small quantities and let the state regulate and tax its retail sale, is expected to draw California's Democratic voters and have a "coattail effect" for Democratic candidates. Party officials have considered Colorado, Nevada, and Washington as possible key states to roll out cannabis ballot measures during the 2012 presidential election. Though ballot initiatives don't generally have a big impact on turnout, initiatives that target certain audiences may tip the balance: In 2004, efforts to ban gay marriage in Ohio and other states brought out thousands of conservative voters and may have helped George W. Bush to victory. An August poll of California voters showed that the marijuana measure sent Democratic interest in this year's elections soaring from 24 percent to 38 percent, while it made no difference to Republicans.

From Slate (10-6-20); Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010