Survey Finds 47% in Nebraska Support Legalizing Recreational Cannabis, 84% Support Medical
- Nearly half of Nebraska adults (46.6%) support legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational use, with 36.5% supporting medical use only, according to a University of Nebraska–Lincoln report.
- Overall support for medical marijuana rose to 83.2% in 2026, up from about 80% in 2024, while combined medical and recreational support increased to nearly 47% from approximately 44%.
- Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana legalization in November 2024 with 71% in favor; the state has since finalized regulations and issued its first cultivation license.
- Support for marijuana legalization is higher in metropolitan areas (54%) compared to micropolitan (35%) and other counties (32%), and marijuana use from legal purchases in other states has increased from 11% to 15%.
Support for marijuana legalization is growing in Nebraska, with nearly half of adults now favoring legal use for both medical and recreational purposes, according to a new University of Nebraska–Lincoln report.
The Rural Drug Addiction Research Center surveyed residents through the 2026 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey. The report found that 46.6% supported legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, while 36.5% supported medical use only. About 16.8% said marijuana should remain illegal.
Overall support for medical marijuana reached 83.2%, up from approximately 80% in 2024. Support for both medical and recreational legalization increased from approximately 44% to nearly 47%.
Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana legalization in November 2024, with 71% voting in favor. State officials recently approved permanent regulations and issued the state’s first cultivation license.
The survey also found that 15% of residents had used marijuana legally purchased in another state, up from 11% in 2024. Recreational marijuana is legal in neighboring Colorado and Missouri.
Support varied significantly by region. In metropolitan areas, 54% favored medical and recreational legalization, compared with 35% in micropolitan areas and 32% in other counties.
Use of delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived products also increased, rising from 8% in 2024 to 10% in 2026.