9 Facts About Americans' Views on Marijuana

The use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under U.S. federal law, but around three-quarters of states have legalized the drug for medical or recreational purposes. This evolving legal landscape reflects a decades-long increase in public support for legalization, now favored by a majority of Americans.

1. Widespread Support for Legalization:

Nearly nine in ten Americans believe marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use legal for medical or recreational use. According to a January 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 88% of U.S. adults support legalization, with 32% favoring it solely for medical use and 57% for both medical and recreational use. Only 11% oppose legalization in any form. These perspectives have remained relatively steady over the past five years.

2. Demographic Differences:

• Older Adults: Support varies by age, with only 31% of those aged 75 and older supporting legalization for both uses, compared to 50% of those aged 65-74 and 71% of adults under 30.

• Political Affiliation: 42% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents favor legalization for both uses, versus 72% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Conservatives within both parties are less likely to support legalization.

• Race and Ethnicity: Support is lower among Hispanic and Asian Americans (45% each) compared to Black (65%) and White (59%) adults.

3. Historical Increase in Support:

• Over the past two decades, support for marijuana legalization has surged. A 2023 Gallup poll indicated that 70% of adults favored legalization, more than double the share from 2000.

4. Prevalence of Use:

•  Half of U.S. adults (50.3%) have used marijuana at some point in their lives. In 2022, 23% said they had used it in the past year, while 15.9% had used it in the past month.

5. Perceived Economic Benefits:

• About 52% of adults believe legalizing recreational marijuana benefits local economies, while 17% think it is detrimental, and 29% see no impact.

6. Criminal Justice System Fairness:

• 42% of Americans believe legalizing marijuana for recreational use makes the criminal justice system fairer, while 18% think it makes the system less fair, and 38% see no impact.

7. Use of Other Drugs:

• Opinions are mixed regarding the impact of marijuana legalization on the use of other drugs: 27% believe it decreases use, 29% think it increases use, and 42% see no effect.

8. Community Safety:

• 21% of Americans feel that recreational legalization makes communities safer, 34% think it makes them less safe, and 44% see no impact on safety.

9. Support for Easing Penalties:

• Two-thirds of adults support releasing people imprisoned for marijuana-related offenses, with 41% strongly favoring this. Additionally, 61% support expunging these offenses from criminal records.

Legal Landscape

• As of March 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, and another 14 states have legalized it for medical use only. Twenty-six states have at least partially decriminalized recreational marijuana use, as has the District of Columbia.

• More than half of Americans live in states where both recreational and medical marijuana are legal, and 74% live in states where marijuana is legal for either purpose. In 2012, Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana.

• Around 79% of Americans live in counties with at least one cannabis dispensary, with nearly 15,000 dispensaries nationwide. The states with the highest number of dispensaries include California, Oklahoma, Florida, Colorado, and Michigan.