SACRAMENTO _ California voters are leaning toward making the Golden State the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
In a new Field Poll of likely voters in the Nov. 2 election, the state's Proposition 19 marijuana initiative leads by a 49 percent to 42 percent margin.
The measure holds heavy majorities among voters who are younger than 40 and those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Los Angeles.
The measure, largely favored by Democrats, trails decidedly among Republicans and is losing by a nearly 2-1 margin in the Central Valley.
The Sept. 14-21 Field Poll of 599 likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
However, the new poll shows an increase in support for Proposition 19 since a Field Poll in July had the measure losing, 48 percent to 44 percent.
