Nine in 10 Americans say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical purposes, a new Pew Research Center poll finds. And most agree that legalization bolsters local economies and makes the criminal justice system more fair.
The report found that 88% of Americans back legalization in some form, including a 57% majority who say it should be accessible for medical and adult use. Just 11% said cannabis should be prohibited altogether. Both of these were the best results yet for those who support the legalization of cannabis.
The report states that a “Sizable age and partisan differences persist on the issue of marijuana legalization though small shares of adults across demographic groups are completely opposed to it. Older adults are far less likely than younger adults to favor marijuana legalization.” Of adults 75 and older, only 31% said marijuana should be legalized, compared to 50% of those 65-74 who believed in legalization.
