A new Gallup poll finds the highest-ever level of support for legalizing marijuana, with majorities of once-opposed conservatives and Republicans now backing legalization in recent years.
“Seven in 10 Americans think marijuana use should be legal, the highest level yet after holding steady at 68% for three years,” Gallup reports, citing the results of a poll conducted regularly since 1969.
“Twelve percent of Americans backed legalizing marijuana when Gallup first asked about it in 1969,” the firm reports, noting that “support cracked the 50% threshold in 2013, jumping 10 percentage points to 58% after Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.”
While increased support in past years was driven by increased acceptance among political liberals and moderates, new increases in support are marked by acceptance among conservative Republicans.
“For the second straight year, majority support for legalization is found among all major subgroups, including by age, political party and ideology,” Gallup reports.
“Self-identified conservatives were the last major subgroup to express majority support, reaching 51% in 2022. Republicans first gave marijuana majority-level backing in 2017,” Gallup notes.
But support is still highest, so to speak, among the political left and younger Americans.
“As of today, support for legal marijuana use is highest among self-identified liberals (91%) and Democrats (87%) and lowest among conservatives (52%) and Republicans (55%). Support is inversely correlated with age, reaching 79% among 18- to 34-year-olds. However, even among the oldest age group, nearly two-thirds (64%) are in favor,” Gallup notes, adding that there “are no significant differences in support by gender, race or education.”
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