Support for legalizing weed peaks at 65% among American voters, a new poll says

As the clouds of prohibition begin to clear, a glimmer of hope shines in cannabis, the once demonized plant. According to recent polls, 65% of Americans now support legalizing the drug, marking a significant shift in public opinion.

The tide is turning and it is clear that the majority of the country is ready to take a more progressive approach to cannabis policy. Gone are the days of reefer madness and scaremongering of the past. People are now realizing the medical benefits of cannabis and the economic potential it holds.

As more states open their doors to marijuana, support for its legalization continues to mount. Public support for the drug’s legalization for medicinal and recreational use reflects changing attitudes towards the once controversial plant.

According to a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, a large majority of American adults (88%) believe marijuana should be legal, either for medical and recreational use (59%) or for medical use only (30%). Only a small fraction (10%) of respondents believe that marijuana use should remain illegal. These views have remained unchanged since April 2021.

The recent Pew Research Center poll found overwhelming support for legalizing marijuana, following President Joe Biden’s decision to grant pardons to people convicted of federal marijuana possession. His administration continues to review how marijuana is classified under federal law.

The poll was conducted ahead of the Nov. 8, 2022 midterm elections, in which two states legalized recreational marijuana, bringing the total number of states plus the District of Columbia that have legalized cannabis to 21.

The survey

A separate Gallup poll that measures public support for marijuana legalization over the long term has shown a significant increase in support for marijuana legalization. The survey question asks whether marijuana use should be legalized, without specifying whether it would be legalized for medical or recreational use. Results from the 2022 poll showed that 65% of adults believe marijuana should be legal, which is an all-time high and in line with support recorded in the 2021 poll.

While support for legalizing marijuana is high among Americans, there are still notable differences in views on the issue based on age and political affiliation. Although a small percentage of adults of all ages are strongly opposed to the legalization of marijuana, older adults are significantly less supportive of recreational legalization than are younger adults.

Differences of opinion on marijuana legalization are particularly pronounced among older adults, with only 30% of those over 75 supporting legalization for recreational and medical use, compared to 53% of those 65 to 74 years of age prefer legalization for younger age groups recreational and medical purposes.

There are also significant differences in views on marijuana legalization between Republicans and Democrats. 45% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana, and 39% support legalization for medical use only. 73% of Democrats and Democrats support the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana, with another 21% supporting legalization for medical use only.

There are also notable differences in views on marijuana legalization within each political party, based on ideology. While only 37% of conservative Republicans support the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana, a majority (60%) of moderate and liberal Republicans support it.

Views on legalizing marijuana also vary among Democrats based on their ideology, with nearly two-thirds of moderate and conservative Democrats (63%) supporting legalization for recreational and medical use, while an overwhelming majority of liberal Democrats (84%) ) this shares same view.

Additionally, there are differences in views on marijuana legalization between different ethnic and racial groups. Majorities of Black adults (68%) and White adults (60%) support the legalization of marijuana for both recreational and medical use, while smaller proportions of Hispanic (49%) and Asian adults (48%) share the same view share.

Perceptions of cannabis legalization vary by age in both parties.

While Democrats and Republicans have very different views on legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, there are also notable differences within each party based on age.

A clear majority (62%) of Republicans ages 18-29 support legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, compared to a small majority (52%) of 30-49 year olds. Support for legalization is falling among older Republicans, with 41% of 50-64 year-olds and 38% of 65-74 year-olds in favor, and only 18% of those over 75.

Despite the age difference, a large majority of Republicans of all ages support legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. Even among Republicans over the age of 65, only 17% oppose legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

Despite the age difference, most Democrats of all ages support legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use. Older Democrats are less likely to hold this view, however, with just 51% of Democrats age 75 and older saying marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational purposes, compared with a more significant proportion of younger Democrats. Even so, only 8% of Democrats 75 and older don’t support legalizing marijuana even for medical purposes, similar to other Democrats who share the same view.

Conclusion

As pressure to legalize marijuana continues to gather momentum, it’s clear that the American public is largely in favor of making the drug available for medical and recreational use. With growing support from different age groups, political affiliations, and ethnicities, it seems that legalizing marijuana is no longer a question of “if” but of “when.” As more states legalize the drug and research continues to shed light on its potential benefits, we’re likely to see even more excellent support for legalization in the years to come. The winds of change are blowing and the green flag of cannabis is flying high and proud.

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