Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Cannabis No Longer Carries Negative Stigma

Cannabis may be losing the negative stigma long associated with it, according to the Harris Poll’s State of Marijuana 2024 report, which found 64% of Americans agreeing that “Marijuana no longer carries the stigma it used to have.” The poll found 72% of Americans believed cannabis is only going to get more popular, with 70% saying it would someday be accessible for everyone.   

Smoking cannabis remained the most popular consumption method, the Harris report found, with 81% of parents with children under 18-years-old and 78% of Gen Z and millennials saying smoking is the most common way they consume cannabis. Another 62% of respondents said they preferred edibles, 56% said vaping, and 42% said dabbing. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they “seek out people who use marijuana the same ways that I do for social circles” and 47% said that “Living comfortably with a partner means sharing mutual acceptance of marijuana usage.”

In a press release, Libby Rodney, the Harris Poll’s chief strategy officer and resident futurist, said the numbers found by the firm, “speak volumes.”  

“With four in 10 Americans using marijuana, it’s not a trend – it’s a cultural shift. What was once taboo is now mainstream, reflecting changing attitudes and norms. It’s not just about usage; it’s about acceptance, signaling a new era in how we perceive and interact with this once controversial substance.” — Rodney in a press release 

The majority of respondents, 77%, identified as evening consumers, while 41% described themselves as morning consumers. Most respondents said they consumed cannabis when they “want to relax and unwind,” which totaled 64%, including 69% of Gen Zers. Sixty-one percent of those polled said that consuming cannabis provides them “with a sense of connection and alleviates feelings of loneliness.” 

Nearly 60% of respondents said they were “surprised” that cannabis has not yet been federally legalized. 

The report also notes that 77% of all cannabis consumers prefer it over cigarettes (83% of heavy cannabis consumers) and 73% prefer cannabis over alcohol (82% of heavy cannabis consumers). 

“Peering into the crystal ball of the marijuana industry, one thing is abundantly clear: Change is on the horizon,” Rodney said in a statement. “With a staggering two-thirds of Americans expecting medical marijuana to be as commonplace as prescription medicines within the next five years, it’s a seismic shift that promises to redefine healthcare and wellness. It’s not just optimism; it’s a firm belief in the transformative power of marijuana in the realm of medicine and beyond.”