Like same sex marriage, notice the generational difference in views toward the legalization of marijuana. Legalization is coming. Gallup
reports:PRINCETON, NJ -- A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal.
When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed. Support remained in the mid-20s in Gallup measures from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30% in 2000 and 40% in 2009 before reaching the 50% level in this year's Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey.
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Support for legalizing marijuana is directly and inversely proportional to age, ranging from 62% approval among those 18 to 29 down to 31% among those 65 and older. Liberals are twice as likely as conservatives to favor legalizing marijuana. And Democrats and independents are more likely to be in favor than are Republicans.
More men than women support legalizing the drug. Those in the West and Midwest are more likely to favor it than those in the South.
Percent of Subgroups That Support Legalizing Use of Marijuana
Liberals 69%
18-29 62%
Moderates 57%
Independents 57%
Democrats 57%
30-49 56%
West 55%
Men 55%
Midwest 54%
East 51%
50-64 49%
Women 46%
South 44%
Republicans 35%
Conservatives 34%
65+ 31%
