Washington, DC — The percentage of Americans who believe that “the use of marijuana should be legal,” remains at the record high level reported in the previous two annual nationwide polls conducted by Gallup.
Sixty-eight percent of respondents endorse legalization — the same level of support reported by Gallup in 2021 and 2020. Majorities of nearly every subgroup were in favor of legalization.
“An overwhelming majority of Americans have consistently opposed our failed prohibition of marijuana for nearly a decade; it defies common sense and the concept of sound public policy that our elected officials at the federal level have yet to take meaningful action.” NORML’s Executive Director Erik Altieri said. “Voters of almost every age and in virtually every region of the country agree that marijuana should be legal. It is well past time that Congress finally takes action to reform our nation’s laws to reflect the people’s will and relegate our disastrous prohibition policies to the trash bin of history.”
In 1969, when Gallup first began surveying the question, only twelve percent of Americans backed marijuana legalization. In 1996, when California voters became the first state in the nation to legalize cannabis for medical use, 25 percent of Americans said that marijuana should be legal for those ages 21 and older. Since 2012, when Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for adults, public support for legalization has risen nationally by some 20 percentage points. Legalization has enjoyed majority support among Americans since 2013.
Consistent with previous polls, Gallup reported that most Democrats (81 percent) and political independents (70 percent) support marijuana legalization. By contrast, Republicans are nearly evenly split on the question (51 percent in favor). The only subgroups that didn’t cross the 50% support threshold were self-identified conservatives (49 percent) and individuals who attend church services weekly (46 percent).
Full survey results are available HERE.
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NORML advocates for changes in public policy so that the responsible possession and use of marijuana by adults is no longer subject to criminal penalties. NORML further advocates for a regulated commercial cannabis market so that activities involving the for-profit production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products are safe, transparent, consumer-friendly, and are subject to state and/or local licensure. Finally, NORML advocates for additional changes in legal and regulatory policies so that those who use marijuana responsibly no longer face either social stigma or workplace discrimination and so that those with past criminal records for marijuana-related violations have the opportunity to have their records automatically expunged.
Find out more at norml.org and read the NORML Fact Sheets on the most common misconceptions and myths regarding cannabis and cannabis policies.
