Dude. Whether the pro-marijuana initiatives on four state ballots pass or go up in smoke Tuesday, pot as a political issue isn't going away, as progressives hope to use it to lure young people to the polls in 2012 and beyond.
Residents of Arizona, Oregon, and South Dakota will consider medical marijuana measures with varying legal implications, and Californians will vote on a proposition that would fulfill reggae legend Peter Tosh's wish and legalize weed outright.
Supporters of all four initiatives have suffered this year from being underfunded and overshadowed by bigger election year headlines such as the economy, health care, immigration and, of course, the tea party.
Polls in each of those states show voters leaning against relaxing marijuana laws or, at most, on the fence. But when it comes to issues such as this, it's always hard to tell whether poll respondents are honest about their feelings, according to Democratic pollster Anna Greenberg.
"There's the issue of social desirability. People might be less likely to admit to pollsters their positions on marijuana," Greenberg said, pointing out that automated polls show more support for pot initiatives than surveys that employ live poll takers.
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