Gallup poll shows support for legalizing marijuana is at a record high of 70 percent, including a strong majority of Republicans

Support for cannabis legalization has reached a new record nationwide, according to a Gallup poll. Seven in 10 Americans — including significant majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents — now support ending Prohibition.

The poll released Wednesday shows that support for legalization is at its highest level since the company began tracking public opinion on the issue in 1969, with a majority of all demographics surveyed supporting the reform. Overall, seventy percent of respondents say they support legalization, an increase of two percentage points from last year. Only 29 percent of Americans believe cannabis should remain illegal.

Specifically, Gallup found “no difference in support for legalization” between people living in states that have already implemented the reform and those living in states where cannabis is only legal for medical reasons or is criminalized entirely. “70 percent of adults in both groups are in favor,” the company said.

Majorities support legalization across genders, ages, races, education levels, regions, party affiliations and ideologies.

“The nation has reached a broad consensus on legalizing marijuana, with a full seven in 10 now supporting it,” Gallup said. “Not only do most U.S. adults support it, but also majorities of all major political and ideological subgroups.”

“Although some health organizations and political commentators have raised concerns about the medical risks of marijuana, this has not yet dampened the public’s desire for legalization,” the analysis said. “Right now, high support among younger adults suggests that national support will only increase in the coming years, which will likely lead to more states and perhaps the federal government taking steps to legalize it.”

Support has gradually increased over the past few decades, growing dramatically as more states began legalization, before seemingly settling at 68 percent between 2019 and 2022.

The latest poll shows that 79 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds support marijuana legalization, compared to 71 percent of 34- to 54-year-olds and 64 percent of those 55 and older.

Democrats were most likely to support legalization at a record 87 percent, followed by independents (69 percent) and Republicans (55 percent). Support among Republicans has increased four percentage points since 2022.

The poll, which included interviews with 1,009 Americans from Oct. 2 to Oct. 23, shows that despite marijuana legalization’s overwhelming popularity among the public, there is still room for this majority opinion to expand.

Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

In historical context, when Gallup began surveying Americans about legalization in 1969, only 12 percent of respondents said they opposed Prohibition.

Despite majority Republican support for legalization, Gallup noted in a report earlier this year that the partisan divide has widened over the past two decades as Democrats have embraced the issue even more quickly.

This is consistent with a broader trend the firm noted in the report, showing how partisan divides have widened on various issues, including those where there is still majority support across party lines. The gap on marijuana legalization is still narrowing compared to many other hot-button issues like global warming, gun control and abortion.

Still, a number of other polls released earlier this year also show that most Americans, regardless of party affiliation, are willing to repeal the federal marijuana ban.

While 24 states have now moved to legalize adult-use use — in addition to the vast majority that allow some form of medical cannabis — federal reform lags far behind the public. Republican lawmakers in particular have generally resisted the issue despite growing bipartisan support in their districts.

Voters in swing state Ohio were the last to approve legalization in Tuesday’s vote. And based on the outcome of a case before the state Supreme Court, the presidential election state of Florida could also decide the issue next year.

This article originally appeared on Marijuana Moment.