Gallup: Public Support for Legalizing Marijuana Remains Near Historic High

Nearly seven in ten Americans say that “the use of marijuana should be legal,” according to new nationwide polling data released by Gallup.

Sixty-eight percent of respondents endorse cannabis legalization. That percentage is among the highest level of support ever reported by pollsters.

In 1969, when Gallup first began surveying the question, only twelve percent of Americans backed marijuana legalization. Since 2012, when Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize marijuana for adults, public support for legalization has risen nationally by some 20 percentage points. Legalization has enjoyed majority support among Americans since 2013 and has held steady around 68 percent since 2020.

“An overwhelming majority of Americans oppose marijuana prohibition, and this has been the case for more than a decade. It borders on political malpractice that Congress has yet to take any meaningful action to comport federal cannabis laws with the will of the people,” NORML’s Deputy Director said.

The new poll results come just hours before voters in several states and municipalities will decide on various marijuana-related ballot measures. In recent weeks, both Presidential candidates have expressed support for legalizing marijuana — the first time that candidates from both major political parties have done so.

“At a time when voters and politicians are historically divided, there is one issue that Americans largely agree upon: It’s time to legalize marijuana,” Armentano added. “In an election where every vote counts, both Trump and Harris wisely see advocating for marijuana policy reform as an opportunity to connect with a wide range of potential voters. It’s just further proof that an issue once considered to be a political hot button has now become mainstream.”

Additional Election 2024 coverage is available from NORML.