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
Gallup Legalization Poll (November 2020) Sixty-eight percent of Americans, including majorities of all age groups, believe that the use of "marijuana should be made legal.”
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.”
State Polls
New York: Sienna College Poll (November 2021) New Yorkers support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in New York 60-32 percent, the strongest support legalization has ever had in a Siena College poll.
Kansas: Kansas Speaks/For Hays State University Survey (October 2020) 70 percent of Kansans support “legalizing recreational marijuana for individuals 21 and older."
New York: Spectrum News/Ipsos Poll (October 2020) A majority of New Yorkers, 61% to 30%, also would back the legalizing of recreational marijuana — an issue that links criminal justice with concerns over the state's budget gap.
New Mexico: DPA Poll (October 2020) Seventy-two percent of respondents said they favor the proposal to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis sales, including 94 percent of Democrats, 46 percent of Republicans and 93 percent of independents.
- Pennsylvania: Franklin & Marshall College Poll (September 2020) Fifty-eight percent of registered voters “think the use of marijuana should be made legal."
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.
Medical Marijuana Surveys
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.
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.