WASHINGTON DC – The overwhelming majority of US adults favor legalizing marijuana federally and most perceive it to be safer to consume than either tobacco or alcohol, according to nationwide polling data released today.
Survey data compiled by Data For Progress finds that two-thirds of likely voters support legalizing cannabis federally “for all adults over the age of 21.” Seventy-five percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Independents, and 54 percent of Republicans endorse legalization.
Majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans also said that they supported the Biden Administration’s efforts to pardon those convicted of federal marijuana possession offenses and to move marijuana from its Schedule I prohibited status under the US Controlled Substances Act.
Separate polling data compiled by YouGov finds that just under two-thirds of adults say that the regular use of alcohol and tobacco is “more harmful to a person’s health” than the use of cannabis.
One in four respondents reported having used cannabis within the past year, and 62 percent said, “The use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States.”
The poll results are the latest in a series of recent surveys showing majority support for legalizing marijuana.
“There’s no ‘buyer’s remorse’ among the public when it comes to legalizing cannabis,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “As more states have adopted legalization, public support for this policy has risen dramatically among voters — regardless of party affiliation. That’s because these policies are largely working as intended and because voters prefer legalization and regulation over the failed policy of cannabis prohibition. Elected officials who refuse to take action to end cannabis criminalization do so at their own political peril.”
Additional polling data is available from NORML.
