Two new polls have found the majority of Americans support cannabis legalization and criminal reforms related to cannabis possession. In the Aug. 3 Quinnipiac University poll, 94 percent of respondents said that adults should be allowed to use cannabis for medical purposes if prescribed by their doctor – and in the overall demographics surveyed not one group polled below 90 percent in favor.
Moreover, 61 percent indicated they believe cannabis should be legalized nationally; however, support for the proposition varied among age, gender, and political affiliation. The poll found strongest support among respondents aged 35 to 49 (77 percent) and 18 to 34 (71 percent). Support was lowest among Republicans (37 percent) and those 65-and-older (42 percent). Men polled supported legalization at higher rates than women at 64 percent and 59 percent, respectively.
The Quinnipiac pollsters also discovered a supermajority of voters, 75 percent, opposed the federal government from interfering in state-approved medical and adult-use cannabis programs.
The Harvard-Harris Poll, conducted in mid-July, found 72 percent of respondents didn’t believe people convicted of cannabis-related crimes in non-legal states should face any jail time. Further, 57 percent said they believed that “legalizing marijuana makes societies better,” while 43 percent disagreed.
Just 14 percent of respondents in the poll supported prohibition.