A new poll found that 62 percent of likely California voters would support a ballot initiative to regulate marijuana like wine. This is the highest level of support I’ve seen in any poll of California about the issue of marijuana legalization.

Despite the fact the California voters are not overflowing with confidence in President Obama’s abilities, in the potential general election match-ups Obama would still easily defeat Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich according to a new Field poll. While this isn’t a surprising result I think the partisan crosstabs on the poll are extremely telling.

The drop in approval for Obama came mostly from Democrats as well as those who don’t identify with the two major parties, mainly because Obama’s job approval ratings among Republicans were all ready so low there wasn’t much room for it to fdrop lower. In the past few months Obama’s job approval number among Democrats dropped by 10 points from 79 percent in June to 69 percent now. The erosion in support among “non-partisans/others” was even greater, dropping 13 points, from 58 percent in June to only 45 percent now.

Proposition 19, which would legalize and regulate production and distribution of marijuana in California, is trailing slightly in the two most recent polls from Field and PPP. While the polling is still relatively close, this is not a good sign. For Prop 19 to pass, there will need to be a very large turnout among supporters and young voters who are not being included in the pollsters’ “likely voter” models.

Ballot measures tend to be much harder to accurately poll than partisan elections. Each initiative is a unique question with its own quirky set of parameters regarding which demographics and psychographics are most likely to support or oppose it. In comparison, all partisan elections between a Democrat and Republican are, at a core level, fairly similar.

Voters in California have heard or seen something about Proposition 19 at levels almost unheard of for any other ballot measure anywhere in the country. Among young voters, awareness of Prop 19, which would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, is at an unprecedented (and almost impossible to believe) 94 percent.

With real energy reform and/or climate change legislation completely stalled on Capitol Hill, the fight for environmentalists is in the states. One of the most important fights for the environmental movement right now is against big oil’s Proposition 23, which would cripple California’s landmark greenhouse gas legislation.

Support for California Proposition 19, which would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, increased significantly in the latest Field Poll (PDF). Yes on Prop 19 is now winning 49% compared to 42% against.

The good news keeps coming for incumbent Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer. The latest Field Poll of likely voters has her leading Carly Fiorina by six points.

Throughout this cycle, SurveyUSA’s polling in California has been slightly less favorable for Democrats, but the most recent poll for CBS 5 shows clear movement in favor of Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown and incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer. Both Democrats now lead in their respective races.