Seven in 10 Americans think cannabis use should be legal, the highest level yet after holding steady at 68% for three years. The latest results are based on a Gallup poll conducted Oct. 2-23. Aside from those in favor, 29% of U.S. adults think cannabis should not be legal, while 1% are unsure.
Twelve percent of Americans backed legalizing cannabis when Gallup first asked about it in 1969. 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.
Support has since increased by another 12 points, paralleling the rise in Americans’ self-reported use of the drug. According to Gallup’s July Consumption Habits survey, the percentage saying they personally smoke cannabis has risen 10 points to 17% since 2013, and the percentage who have ever tried it has increased 12 points to 50%.
The July poll also found a slight majority of Americans expressing low concern about the effect of regular cannabis use on adults, although they were more uneasy about the effects on young adult and teen users.
Read more at gallup.com