Record-High 70% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana, Reflecting a National Shift
This fresh high in support comes from a recent Gallup poll conducted from October 2 to October 23. Within these figures, 29% of U.S. adults oppose legalization, and a marginal 1% remain uncertain.
Back in 1969, a mere 12% of Americans were in favor when Gallup first introduced the question. The advocacy crossed the 50% mark in 2013, surging by 10 percentage points to 58% when Colorado and Washington state pioneered the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Since then, support has climbed an additional 12 points, mirroring the increase in Americans’ self-reported marijuana usage. Based on the Gallup’s July Consumption Habits survey, the proportion of those who say they smoke marijuana has risen by 10 points to 17% since 2013, while the share of those who have tried it at least once has grown by 12 points to 50%.
The July survey also revealed that a narrow majority of Americans have minimal concern over the impact of regular marijuana use in adults, although they show more apprehension regarding its effects on teens and young adults.
For the second consecutive year, legalization has won backing across all primary demographics, including age, political affiliation, and ideology. Conservatives, traditionally the holdouts, reached a 51% approval in 2022. Republican support crossed into majority territory in 2017.
Presently, legalization enjoys the strongest support from self-described liberals (91%) and Democrats (87%), while conservatives (52%) and Republicans (55%) show the least. Support declines with age, hitting 79% among the 18 to 34 demographic, but still garners a substantial 64% approval from senior citizens.
Support by gender, race, or educational background shows no significant variance. While this year’s regional differences are generally statistically insignificant, continued lower support in the East compared to the West and Midwest aligns with recent patterns.
On a broader scale, the poll indicates equal support for legalization regardless of whether respondents are from the 23 states plus the District of Columbia where recreational use was legal at the time of the poll, or from the remaining 27 states with stricter laws. Seventy percent of adults in both sectors support legalization.
The national consensus is clear: seven in 10 Americans now advocate for the legalization of marijuana. This support spans across most U.S. adults and major political and ideological groups.
Despite certain health organizations and commentators voicing concerns over marijuana’s medical risks, public support for legalization has not waned. The strong backing from younger adults suggests that national approval is set to grow further in the forthcoming years, potentially catalyzing more states, and possibly the federal level, to sanction its use.
