Slim Majority of Americans Support Marijuana Legalization

Though the majority of Americans still support the legalization of marijuana, the percentage of the population in support has dropped significantly since last year. The poll comes just days after voters in Oregon and Alaska decided to legalize recreational marijuana in the state and voters in D.C. passed a measure that makes it legal for residents over 21 years of age to possess up to 2 oz. of marijuana. Four states and the District of Columbia have now all legalized recreational use of pot.

Fifty-one percent of Americans support the legalization of pot, according to a new Gallup poll that was conducted from Oct. 12 to 15. That number is down from 2013, when 58% said they were in favor, but similar to the numbers from 2011 and 2012 when 50% of the population supported legalizing marijuana.

While 73% of liberals and 58% of moderates supported legalization, only 31% of conservatives did.

Gallup suggests that the drop in enthusiasm for legalization of marijuana may come from recent news items about the risk that marijuana-infused edibles pose to children. They also say that momentum had built behind legalization around the time of last year’s poll as Colorado prepared to put its new laws into effect, but no such momentum has built this year.