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:
- All
- National Polls
- State Polls
- Medical Marijuana Surveys
National Polls
Data for Progress (August 2020) Fifty-eight percent of respondents — including 69 percent of Democrats and 54 percent of Republicans — agreed that “the federal government should legalize the use and sale of marijuana for adults.” H Code 2020 National Poll of US Hispanic Adults Sixty-eight percent of English- and Spanish-speaking US Hispanic adults support legalizing marijuana nationwide.
Gallup Poll (October 2019) Sixty-six percent of Americans, including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents support making marijuana use legal in the United States.
Pew Research Poll (November 2019) Sixty-seven percent of US adults say “the use of marijuana should be made legal.”
NPR/PBS and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion Poll Sixty-two percent of US adults believe that “legalizing marijuana nationally” is a “good idea.”
Fox News Opinion Poll (December 2019) Sixty-three percent of US adults support “legalizing the recreational use of marijuana on a national level.”
Public Religion Research Institute Survey (Fall 2019) Two-thirds of Americans support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Democrats (79 percent) and Independents (71 percent) are most supportive, while less than half of Republicans (46 percent) back legalization.
State Polls
Arizona: July 2020 OH Predictive Insights Poll Sixty-two percent of likely general election voters “believe that marijuana should be legalized for adult use in the state of Arizona.”
Arizona: HighGround Inc. Survey (May 2020) Sixty-six percent of voters say that they would “definitely” or “probably” vote in November for the passage of the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which seeks to legalize the personal use and retail sale of cannabis.
Pennsylvania: Harper Polling Statewide Survey (April 2020) Sixty-two percent of likely voters favor "allowing the sale of adult use cannabis in Pennsylvania."
Connecticut: Hartford Courant/Sacred Heart University (March 2020) Sixty-three percent of Connecticut adults support the “legalization of recreational marijuana” statewide.
Iowa: Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll (March 2020) Fifty-three percent of Iowans believe that lawmakers should “legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes.”
Minnesota: Star Tribune/MPR poll (February 2020) Fifty-one percent of residents think that Minnesota lawmakers should "legalize marijuana for recreational use” — up from only 30 percent in 2014, the last time the question was polled.
- New York: Sienna College Research Institute poll (February 2020) Fifty-fine percent of voters support “legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.”
Medical Marijuana Surveys
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.
Georgia: Channel 2 Action News Poll More than 60 percent of Georgia Republican voters support the growing of medical cannabis within Georgia borders.
Illinois Statewide Survey Eighty percent of likely voters in Illinois support allowing patients to use medical marijuana as recommended by a doctor.
Utah: Public Opinion Poll Seventy-two percent of likely voters believe that doctors who specialize in treating serious illnesses like cancer, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's should be allowed to recommend cannabis as a treatment for their patients.
Florida: Public Policy Polling Sixty-five percent of Florida voters support passing a constitutional amendment to permit the dispensing and physician authorized use of medical marijuana.