Princeton, NJ: Sixty percent of Americans believe that “the use of marijuana should be legal,” according to nationwide polling data released by Gallup. The percentage is the highest level of support ever reported by the polling group, and represents more than a doubling in public support over the past two decades.
The data closely follows the release of polling data compiled by the Pew Research Center showing a similar, dramatic shift in public opinion in favor of legalization.
Those ages 18 to 34 (77 percent), Independents (70 percent), and Democrats (67 percent) were most likely to endorse legalization in the Gallup poll. Support was weakest among Republicans (42 percent) and those age 55 or older (45 percent).
The poll possesses a margin of error of +/- four percentage points.
For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500, or Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org