A large majority of adults in the United States support legalizing marijuana federally and most believe it to be safer than tobacco or alcohol, according to nationwide polling data released today.
According to survey data compiled by Data For Progress, two-thirds (66%) of likely voters support legalizing cannabis federally “for all adults over the age of 21.” This includes support from 75% of Democrats, 67% of Independents, and 54% of Republicans.
A 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 shows 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 marijuana. Around 25% reported having used marijuana within the past year, and 62% said, “The use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States.”
“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.”
