Reader Poll: Will you purchase cannabis, now that it’s legal?

Respondents to the Sonoma Index-Tribune poll on legalized cannabis were almost evenly split between pros and cons. Maybe they just can’t make up their minds.|

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Over the past two weeks, Index-Tribune readers were asked if they might purchase cannabis, now that it’s legal for both medicinal and recreational use. Almost 100 readers took a deep breath, held it, and voted their preference.

It’s worth a reminder that online polls are notoriously inaccurate: those who respond tend to be highly engaged on the issue, which can sway the numbers in either direction. And the questions and choice of answerS are also un-scientific: we’re not statisticians or sociologists in the newsroom, but we are interested in our reader’s opinions on these issues.

With those caveats in mind, here are the results.

Almost exactly half said “Yes, I have already made my first legal buy,” which means half of the readers who responded don’t plan to or are undecided (along with the City Council, which is currently in a 10-month moratorium on making a decision on the issue).

If there’s any conclusion to be drawn from this near-even split, it’s that there’s no unanimity in Sonoma on allowing a dispensary in town, despite the overwhelming number of voters who voted in favor of Proposition 64, the 2016 measure legalizing cannabis for recreational use.

As usual, the opinions of our readers are best expressed in their comments, a few select ones of which follow:

A yes vote: “Totally! Haven’t yet, but YES please. And thank you! I am most interested in the products that don’t get you high, but instead help with other ailments (pain patches, etc). And, well, I may buy one or two that send me to Mellow Land. But what I will not do? Drive a car high. Not happening.”

“It seems like a good way to expand revenue. Clearly, many of our visitors are into altered consciousness. Why not make marijuana available to them? If you don’t want to partake, dont. Just like wine.”

“I’m concerned about stoned drivers added to the drunk drivers we already have.”

“Never in my 79 years have smoked marijuana!!!!!”

“I smoked it years ago but now it just makes me (even more) stupid.”

“…USAG Sessions, keep your hands off my legal weed and City of Sonoma, do the right thing and allow me to make my purchases in my community. In my book this has been a long time coming.”

“It is a gateway drug....we are in for more crime and a lower way of life here in California. We haven’t seen anything yet!”

“Great, that’s all Sonoma needs in addition to the drunk drivers -- legally stoned ones!”

“The fear tactics people use against marijuana needs to stop. For some, marijuana provides relief from chronic medical conditions. Others just like it, much like a cold beer at the end of a long day. Stop the drama.”

“I will continue to work with our city council to open a Medical Cannabis dispensary with delivery service here in the City of Sonoma. We deserve one here! Ken”

“I would just want medicinal cannabis available. Recreational availability would not effect me but it does seem ridiculous to deny. Alcohol is available in the local grocery stores.”

“I use cannabis derivatives to sleep and I prefer it to Lunesta or Ambien sleeping medications. I use high CBD strains for my chronically damaged right shoulder, which is too far along to be repaired surgically. Some people say it will attract the wrong kind of people to our recreational dispensary, but having visited the medical equivalents for the last year, the clients have met are Regular Joes, just like me.”

“…Drug companies make all these drugs for pain, heart, 99% have scary side effects. Marijuana allows me to quilt, bake and garden, do every day things that most would consider a piece of cake. Sometimes maneuvering up and down the stairs can be a chore. Cold weather makes it worse. WE desperately need a dispensary for those of us that do not drive…”

“Yes. Because I am a grown up and I can make my own decisions. This should have been done decades ago.”

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