Two in three Americans support marijuana legalization for adult use, according to a new Monmouth University survey, reports The Hill.
About 68 percent of Americans support legalizing at least a small amount of the herb for personal use. This includes 76 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of independents, but just 52 percent of Republicans.
The poll also found that President Biden’s decision this month to pardon all those federally convicted of simple marijuana possession was approved by an overwhelming 69 percent of Americans.
“Support For Marijuana Legalization Has Been Increasing Consistently”
Patrick Murray, the director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said, “Support for marijuana legalization has been increasing consistently over the past twenty years” across various polls.
“Biden’s action is in line with how the vast majority of Americans feel about this issue,” Murray said in a statement.
Pot legalization for recreational use is on the ballot in five states this year: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Legal In 19 States; Medically Legal In 37 States
Across the U.S., 37 states have legalized the drug for medicinal use and another 19 states for recreational use. Washington, D.C., has also legalized both recreational and medicinal marijuana use.
Pot use and legalization are also becoming more prevalent and normalized in the country. Forty-nine percent of all U.S. adults said in 2021 they have used the herb at least once in their lifetime.
In 1969, that number was just 4 percent.
The Monmouth survey was conducted Oct. 13 to Oct. 17 among 808 U.S. adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
