The percentage of Americans who want legal marijuana remains at record levels

The number of Americans supporting legal marijuana has not decreased. A new Gallup poll shows 68% of Americans support marijuana more than ever.

The numbers have risen sharply since Gallup polls first asked Americans about marijuana in 1969. At the time, only 12% of Americans supported the drug.

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Poll results show that a majority of subgroups support marijuana use, including liberals, Democrats, young adults, women, middle- and upper-income adults, and urban and rural dwellers.

Even older adults and Hispanic adults, who are among the least supportive of the demographic, are reporting higher-than-expected numbers, supporting marijuana legalization at 53% and 56%, respectively.

The groups least supportive of legalizing marijuana include conservatives at 49% and those who attend church weekly (46%).

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NORML executive director Erik Altieri provided a statement on the poll’s findings and commented on the disconnect that exists between Americans and political action. “An overwhelming majority of Americans have consistently opposed our failed marijuana ban for nearly a decade; It goes against common sense and the concept of sound politics that our elected officials at the federal level have yet to take meaningful action,” he said.

“Voters of almost every age and in virtually every region of the country agree that marijuana should be legal. It is high time that Congress finally took action to reform our nation’s laws to reflect the will of the people and relegate our disastrous prohibition policies to the dustbin of history.”

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Gallup’s poll shows marijuana isn’t as novel as it used to be, with approvals for the drug remaining steady over the past three years. While older demographics are less supportive of weed, younger people, regardless of religion or politics, are more open to embracing the plant and painting a more accurate picture of the country’s future and their attitude toward the drug.