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American Support for Legal Pot is 70%
A November 8, 2023 consumer survey conducted by Gallup found that 70 percent of Americans think cannabis should be legal. This is up from 68 percent identified as pot-positive in the previous survey.
"The latest results are based on a poll conducted Oct. 2-23," reported Gallup. "Aside from those in favor, 29 percent of U.S. adults think marijuana should not be legal, while one percent are unsure."
When Gallup launched the marijuana preference survey in 1969, only 12 percent of Americans favored legal weed. In 2013, shortly after the first adult-use legal states (Colorado and Washington State) came online, American support of legal marijuana finally topped 50 percent.
"When Gallup launched the marijuana preference survey in 1969, only 12% of Americans favored legal weed."
Americans are also expressing "low concern" about potential negative effects of regular marijuana consumption. They are more concerned with the effects on youth. This is the second year during which the survey revealed that all major subgroups of Americans—regardless of age, political party, or ideology—now support legal cannabis.
Who Wants Legal Weed?
New Gallup Poll: American Support for Legal Pot is 70%. The last major subgroup to report majority support for cannabis legalization was self-identified conservatives. In 2022, it was found that 51 percent of conservatives backed legal weed. In 2017, Republicans first displayed a majority-level backing for eliminating prohibition.
"Support is strongest among liberals (91%) and Democrats (87%) and lowest among conservatives (52%) and Republicans (55%)."
However, legalization support is strongest among self-identified liberals (91 percent) and Democrats (87 percent) and lowest among conservatives (52 percent) and Republicans (55 percent). The survey revealed that cannabis legalization support is "inversely correlated with age, reaching 79 percent among 18-34-year-olds." The report noted that even among the most conservative groups that typically are the least likely to support marijuana policy reform, seniors, "nearly two-thirds (64 percent) are in favor."
Interestingly, the survey showed that no significant difference in cannabis legalization support exists in terms of gender, race, or education. "While most of the regional differences seen this year are also not statistically significant, the lower support for legalization in the East than in the West and Midwest is consistent with the recent trend," reported Gallup.
Concluded the reports authors: "The nation has reached a broad consensus on legalizing marijuana, with a full seven in 10 now supportive." They noted that not only do the vast majority of Americans support legal cannabis, but that this preference exists among all subgroups, even if only marginally.
"The nation has reached a broad consensus on legalizing marijuana, with a full seven in 10 now supportive."
"Although some health organizations and political commentators have raised concerns about the medical risks of marijuana, this hasn't blunted the public's desire for legalization thus far. For now, the high level of support among younger adults suggests national backing will only expand in the years ahead, likely resulting in more states, and perhaps the federal government, moving to legalize it," reported the survey.
Read the original survey.
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