A solid majority of the American public now agree with NORML that responsible marijuana smokers should not be treated like criminals. Eight out of ten Americans support the medical use of marijuana, and nearly 3 out of 4 Americans support a fine-only (no jail) for recreational smokers. Over 60% of Americans now favor legalizing marijuana, according to the most recent Gallup poll — the highest percentage support ever reported in a nationwide scientific poll. Our challenge now is to convert this public support into public policy. Search and sort our polling archive below:
Pew Research Center National Poll (April 2021)Ninety-one percent of US adults say that marijuana should be legal either for medical or adult-use purposes. Only eight percent of adults favor its continued criminalization.
Quinnipiac University National Poll (April 2021)Seven in ten registered voters, including strong majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, say that “the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States.” Majorities of all age groups, including those ages 65 and older, similarly support legalization.
FM3 Research and Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (December 2020)Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed – including 85 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Independents, and 53 percent of Republicans – support legalization. More than one-quarter of respondents (27 percent) – including 33 percent of Democrats, 35 percent of Independents, and 23 percent of Republicans – said that their views have become more favorable in recent years toward legalization. Sixty-five percent of respondents agreed with the statement, “Legalizing adult use of marijuana is a non-partisan issue that both liberal and conservative voters can get behind.”
Louisiana: JMC Analytics March 2021 PollSixty-eight percent of likely voters believe that “using and/or possessing marijuana” should not be illegal. Sixty five percent of respondents would be "more likely” to support a political candidate “who wanted to reform Louisiana’s marijuana laws."
New York: Quinnipiac University Poll (March 2021)Voters say by a more than 2 to 1 margin (64 - 29 percent) that they support allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
New York: Consensus Strategies Survey (March 2021)Sixty-one percent of New York State residents believe that recreational sales of marijuana to adults ought to be legal and 52 percent agree that adults ought to be legally able to row personal use amounts of marijuana at home.
South Carolina: Starboard Communications Poll (February 2021)Seventy-two percent of South Carolinians support "allowing patients in South Carolina who suffer from serious medical conditions to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it"
Pennsylvania: Franklin & Marshall CollegeA record number of Pennsylvania voters, 84 percent, favor legalizing medical marijuana for adults if a doctor recommends it.
Pew Research Center National Poll (April 2021) Ninety-one percent of US adults say that marijuana should be legal either for medical or adult-use purposes. Only eight percent of adults favor its continued criminalization.
Quinnipiac University National Poll (April 2021) Seven in ten registered voters, including strong majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, say that “the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States.” Majorities of all age groups, including those ages 65 and older, similarly support legalization.
The Hill: Marijuana Legalization Poll (March 2021) A plurality of Democrats and independents support legalizing marijuana across the country, at 48 percent and 38 percent, respectively.
Emerson College Poll (February 2021) Sixty-one percent of Americans believe that legalizing marijuana is a “good idea."
FM3 Research and Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (December 2020) Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed – including 85 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Independents, and 53 percent of Republicans – support legalization. More than one-quarter of respondents (27 percent) – including 33 percent of Democrats, 35 percent of Independents, and 23 percent of Republicans – said that their views have become more favorable in recent years toward legalization. Sixty-five percent of respondents agreed with the statement, “Legalizing adult use of marijuana is a non-partisan issue that both liberal and conservative voters can get behind.”
Morning Consult-Politico Survey (December 2020) Two-thirds of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, approve of the House vote to “legalize marijuana at the federal level."
YouGov.com December 2020 Poll Majorities of Democrats (81 percent), Independents (69 percent), and Republicans (57 percent) favor expunging marijuana-related convictions for non-violent offenders.
Pennsylvania: Muhlenberg College Poll (April 2021) Six in ten (58 percent) Pennsylvania adults support the “complete legalization” of marijuana.
Connecticut: Sacred Hart University Poll (April 2021) Sixty-six percent of Connecticut residents support the legalization of recreational marijuana in State for use and possession of adults, 21 and older.Louisiana: JMC Analytics March 2021 Poll Sixty-eight percent of likely voters believe that “using and/or possessing marijuana” should not be illegal. Sixty five percent of respondents would be "more likely” to support a political candidate “who wanted to reform Louisiana’s marijuana laws."
New York: Quinnipiac University Poll (March 2021) Voters say by a more than 2 to 1 margin (64 - 29 percent) that they support allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
New York: Consensus Strategies Survey (March 2021) Sixty-one percent of New York State residents believe that recreational sales of marijuana to adults ought to be legal and 52 percent agree that adults ought to be legally able to row personal use amounts of marijuana at home.
Florida: Florida for Care Survey (March 2021) Fifty-nine percent of Florida voters support the full legalization of marijuana for adult use.
South Carolina: Starboard Communications Poll (February 2021) Seventy-two percent of South Carolinians support "allowing patients in South Carolina who suffer from serious medical conditions to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it"
Wyoming: UW | Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center (December 2020) Legalization Eight-five percent of Wyoming residents say they support the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes if a doctor authorizes it.
North Carolina: Nexstar Media Group/Emerson College Poll (September 2020) Seventy-three percent of North Carolinians believe that “marijuana should be legalized [in the state] for medical purposes."
Pennsylvania: Franklin & Marshall College A record number of Pennsylvania voters, 84 percent, favor legalizing medical marijuana for adults if a doctor recommends it.
Arkansas: Talk Business & Politics Survey Arkansas voters are overwhelmingly supportive (84%) of a restrictive usage of marijuana for medical purposes.