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
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.
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.
State Polls
- North Carolina: Elon University Poll (February 2021) Fifty-four percent of North Carolinians support the legalization of marijuana.
Virginia: Christopher Newport University Poll (February 2021) Sixty-eight percent of registered voters, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, support legalizing marijuana for adults.
Texas: Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation Poll (January 2021) Sixty-four percent of Texans, including 75 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of Independents, and 50 percent of Republicans, support legalizing and taxing marijuana as an additional source of revenue for funding public schools.
Wyoming: UW | Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center (December 2020) Over half (54 percent) of Wyoming residents now say they support allowing adults in Wyoming to legally possess marijuana for personal use.
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.
Medical Marijuana Surveys
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"
- North Carolina: Elon University Poll (February 2021) Seventy-three percent of North Carolinians support the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes
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.