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Majority Of Voters Support Prop 19

SACRAMENTO (KCBS) _ A new Field Poll shows that a majority of California voters now support a proposition that would legalize recreational marijuana use in the state.

Proposition 19 would make California the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use.

The new Field Poll shows Prop 19 ahead among state voters by a margin of 49 to 42 percent.

Poll director Mark DiCamillo said there's a geographic divide on the issue.

"It's a difference between the blue state part of California, which are the coastal counties," he said. "And the red state of California, which are the inland counties. And right now, the blue state counties are prevailing."

DiCamillo said age is also a factor in who opposes or supports Proposition 19.

"Voters under the age of 40 for example, almost 2-to-1 in favor," he said. "Voters 65 and over opposed 5-to-3."

A July Field Poll indicated Prop 19 would lose at the ballot box. 48 percent of respondents to that survey opposed legalizing marijuana, while 44 percent supported the measure.

So far, both supporters and opponents of Proposition 19 have not done any paid advertising.

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