A new NBC News Decision Desk poll finds that less than 30% of American voters think marijuana legalization has been harmful to society, underscoring the growing acceptance of legal cannabis across the country.
According to the survey, conducted between August 13 and September 1, only 27% of respondents said they believe legalizing marijuana is a bad thing for society. By contrast, a larger share—33%—view it as a positive development. The plurality, 45%, said legalization is neither good nor bad, suggesting that for many voters, the issue has become normalized rather than polarizing.
The results come at a time when more than half of U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana and national lawmakers are weighing major reforms, including rescheduling marijuana under federal law and expanding banking access for marijuana businesses. Public attitudes toward marijuana legalization have shifted dramatically over the past decade, with opposition steadily eroding. An Emerson College Poll released last week found that 65% of registered voters in the U.S. support legalizing cannabis.
The NBC News poll, which surveyed more than 30,000 adults nationwide, highlights that skepticism about marijuana legalization now represents a minority viewpoint. The findings align with other national surveys showing consistent majority support for ending prohibition, particularly among younger voters.
Specifically, the poll asked “Thinking about the fact recreational marijuana is now legal in much of the
country, do you think this is generally:” 33% answered “A good thing for society”, 23% responded saying it’s “A bad thing for society”, and 45% said it’s “Neither good nor bad”.
