PRINCETON, N.J. -- A slim majority of Americans, 51%, favor
legalizing the use of marijuana -- similar to the 50% who supported it
in 2011 and 2012, but down from a reading of 58% last year.
The new result is based on an Oct. 12-15 Gallup poll, conducted in
the run-up to the midterm elections in which various pro-marijuana
policy initiatives went before voters in Oregon, Washington, D.C and
Florida, as well as in several cities in Maine, Michigan and elsewhere.
Most of those initiatives succeeded, although a proposed Constitutional
amendment in Florida to legalize medical marijuana failed with 57% of
the vote, just shy of the 60% needed.
Gallup's long-term trend on Americans' support for legalizing marijuana (the full trend is available here)
shows that in 1969, just 12% of U.S. adults were in favor. But that
swelled to 28% by the late 1970s, and 34% by 2003. Since then, support
steadily increased to the point that 50% supported it in 2011. Last year
was the first time Gallup found a solid majority in favor, at 58%. That
poll was conducted amid heavy news coverage of the imminent
implementation of Colorado's marijuana legalization law, which may have
contributed to what appears to have been a temporary jump in support.
This year, support at 51% is still a majority, but closer to where it
was in 2011 and 2012.
