Poll: 59% of Americans Support Legalizing Recreational Marijuana, 84% Back Medical Cannabis
- 59% of Americans support nationwide marijuana legalization, with 32% strongly in favor and 27% somewhat in favor, while 28% oppose it and 13% are unsure.
- Medical marijuana receives overwhelming support at 84%, including 61% who strongly support it, compared to 55% support for recreational marijuana legalization.
- Marijuana use is increasingly normalized, with 20% having used it medically and 41% recreationally, and a majority knowing someone who uses marijuana recreationally.
- Most Americans view medical marijuana as beneficial (69%), while opinions on recreational use are mixed, with divided views on its impact on users’ lives.
A new national poll shows a clear majority of Americans continue to support legalizing marijuana, with particularly strong backing for medical use and more mixed views on recreational access.
According to the survey of 1,105 U.S. adults conducted April 14 to 16, 59% of respondents said they support making marijuana legal nationwide, including 32% who strongly support it and 27% who somewhat support it. Meanwhile, 28% said they oppose legalization, while 13% remain unsure. The poll was commissioned by The Economist and conducted by YouGov.
Support climbs significantly when broken down by use. Medical marijuana continues to receive overwhelming approval, with 84% of respondents in favor, including 61% who strongly support it. Just 9% oppose legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.
By comparison, support for recreational legalization is notably lower but still holds a majority. The poll found that 55% support legalizing marijuana for recreational use, while 33% oppose it and 12% are undecided.
The data also shows that marijuana use—both medical and recreational—has become increasingly normalized. About 20% of respondents said they have used marijuana for medical purposes at some point, including 12% who currently do. Recreational use is even more common, with 41% reporting they have used marijuana recreationally, including 13% who say they currently use it.
Familiarity with marijuana use extends beyond personal experience. A majority of respondents said they know someone who uses marijuana recreationally, including 41% who said someone they know currently uses it and another 24% who said they know someone who used it in the past.
When it comes to perception, Americans largely view medical marijuana as beneficial. Roughly 69% said marijuana makes life better for medical users, while just 6% said it makes life worse. Views on recreational use are more divided, with 27% saying it improves users’ lives, 31% saying it makes life worse, and 28% saying it has no real impact.
Overall, the findings reinforce a long-standing trend: while recreational marijuana still draws some opposition, support for legalization—especially for medical use—remains firmly entrenched among a majority of Americans.