A new analysis from the Pew Research Center finds that a staggering 87% of Americans support legalizing marijuana in some capacity—either for medical, recreational, or both uses.
The analysis reveals that public support for marijuana legalization remains strong, with nearly nine in 10 Americans favoring legalization in some form.
According to the Center’s January–February 2025 survey, 87% of U.S. adults say marijuana should be legal either for both medical and recreational use (54%) or for medical use only (33%). Just 12% believe it should remain entirely illegal. Pew notes these views have remained largely consistent since 2019, even as more states have moved to legalize.
The survey also highlights notable demographic splits in support. While a majority of every group backs legalization, older adults and Republicans remain less likely to support recreational use. Just 31% of those 75 and older say marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes, compared to 65% of adults under 30. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 43% back full legalization, versus 66% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
Race and ethnicity also show disparities. While 58% of White and 57% of Black adults support full legalization, support drops to 42% among Hispanic adults and 39% among Asian adults.
According to Pew’s analysis, 54% of Americans now live in a state where recreational marijuana is legal. Since Colorado and Washington first legalized in 2012, more than a dozen states have followed suit. The most recent to legalize recreational use were Delaware, Minnesota and Ohio in 2023. However, legalization measures failed in Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2024.
Pew also found that 79% of Americans live in a county with at least one licensed dispensary. As of 2024, there were close to 15,000 dispensaries across the country, with most located in states that have legalized recreational use. California, Oklahoma, Florida, Colorado and Michigan had the highest number of licensed stores.
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