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Gallop Poll

Poll: Marijuana Legalization is now Supported by Majority of Americans

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While the past decade has seen a tremendous shift in the American attitude toward medical marijuana, overall legalization was something many analysts did not expect the country to embrace just yet.  In regards to marijuana, many have always felt change would come slowly.  For the activists in the 1940s through the mid 1990s, progress moved at a glacial pace.  Even after California changed the course of history in 1996, many analysts dismissed the newly legalized medical marijuana program as a fad that would quickly fade.  The previous decade proved just how far removed from the truth such sentiments were, but still, even some of the most passionate advocates held little faith in how quick Americans would change their view on legalizing recreational cannabis use.

Gallop has been asking participants since 1969 year on whether or not they feel that marijuana should be legal.  When the poll was first conducted only 12% of respondents agreed with legalizing cannabis.  In 1978 Gallop found that 21% of respondents said they welcomed the acceptance of marijuana.  This would drop again in the 1980s to 13% and as low as 11% in 1991.  History will show that the efforts of Dennis Peron only 5 years after such a low point for marijuana acceptance was nothing short of a modern political miracle.  The public did not have all of the facts and many snickered at the idea of  marijuana being used to improve quality of life for struggling patients.  Since 2002, support for marijuana legalization has steadily been climbing, and now for the first since polling began, a majority of Americans now support legalizing recreational marijuana use and wish to see it regulated in a similar way to alcohol and tobacco.  Click here for more information on the most recent poll on marijuana legalization, which now stands at a record high of 56%.

Much of the time marijuana activists focus has been on the 40 year old war on drugs launched by President Richard Nixon.  Interestingly enough marijuana acceptance’s lowest point was only about 20 years ago, not 40 or 50 years ago, making the change in sentiment that much more pronounced.  Shifts on many social issues show a new generation’s impact on the electorate and more awareness for previously eligible voters.  It seems government officials may have overreached as people seem to be embracing a more libertarian attitude and are seeking for the government to stay out of personal decisions.  They are no longer looking up to the men in suits for approval on how they conduct their daily lives.  Additionally we are in the age of communication where stories can be shared around the world instantaneously.

Between the 1960s and 1990s individuals who tried marijuana still responded negatively in polls and viewed it as a significant problem.  Perhaps they were made to feel guilty by society or assumed serious behavior/health problems would follow if they had continued to use cannabis.  Now with an abundance of scientific information, patients testimonials, and a reminder that over 40 years later, the Woodstock generation still cannot recall anyone who died from cannabis use, the facts are taking control of the argument.  With multigenerational support for marijuana reform the conversation has shifted from “if” to “when”.

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