A brand new ballot launched on Tuesday reveals that just about 9 out of 10 Individuals consider that hashish must be authorized in some type, with a powerful majority saying that leisure marijuana must be legalized for adults. The survey, which was performed by the Pew Analysis Middle final month, was revealed on-line on November 22 after being administered through the first half of October.
The results of the poll, which had been basically unchanged from an analogous survey performed in April 2021, confirmed that 88% of American adults surveyed consider that marijuana must be legalized. Greater than half (59%) stated that medical marijuana and adult-use hashish must be authorized, whereas practically a 3rd (30%) stated that hashish must be legalized for medicinal use solely. Just one in 10 respondents stated that marijuana must be unlawful in all instances.
Assist For Legalization Diverse By Age
Assist for leisure marijuana legalization was sharply divided by the age of the ballot’s respondents, with solely 30% of these 75 and older believing that every one types of hashish must be legalized. In contrast, 72% of these 18 to 29 years previous stated that each leisure marijuana and medical hashish must be legalized, whereas 62% of respondents age 30 to 49 stated the identical. Simply over half (54%) of adults aged 50 to 64 stated each leisure and medical marijuana must be authorized and 53% aged 65 to 74 agreed.
The brand new survey additionally discovered various ranges of assist for marijuana legalization based mostly on the political affiliation of respondents. Practically three-fourths (73%) of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents stated that they believed that marijuana must be authorized for each leisure and medical use and one other 21% stated that solely medical marijuana must be legalized. Amongst liberal Democrats, 84% stated each types of hashish must be authorized, whereas practically two-thirds (63%) of average and conservative Democrats stated that they held the identical view.
Nonetheless, lower than half (45%) of Republicans and unbiased voters who lean Republican stated each medical marijuana and adult-use hashish must be authorized, with a further 39% saying solely medical marijuana must be legalized. A majority (60%) of average and liberal Republicans stated that each medical and leisure marijuana must be legalized, whereas lower than 4 out of 10 (37%) conservative Republicans stated each types of hashish must be authorized.
Ballot Taken After Presidential Pardons Introduced
The brand new ballot was performed after President Joe Biden introduced on October 6 that he would pardon all federal convictions for easy marijuana possession and inspired state governors across the nation to take related motion. On the similar time, the president directed the U.S. legal professional normal and the pinnacle of the Division of Well being and Human Companies to look at the rescheduling of hashish below federal drug legal guidelines.
About three weeks following the completion of the survey, voters in 5 states selected poll measures to legalize leisure marijuana within the November midterm elections. The legalization bids succeeded in Maryland and Missouri, whereas related proposals in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota had been rejected by voters.
The brand new Pew Analysis Middle ballot, which was performed October 10 by 16, additionally recognized totally different ranges of assist for marijuana legalization amongst totally different racial teams. A majority of white (60%) and Black (68%) adults had been in favor of ending the prohibition on each medical marijuana and adult-use hashish. In contrast, lower than half of each Hispanic (49%) and Asian (48%) respondents stated that they had been in favor of full legalization.
The survey’s general outcomes are much like a lately launched Gallup Poll that additionally confirmed robust assist for legalizing marijuana. In that survey, which was taken between October 3 and October 20 and didn’t differentiate between medical hashish and leisure marijuana, greater than two-thirds (68%) of respondents stated that they favored legalization, tying a report excessive for the ballot. A Monmouth Universtiy ballot launched final month confirmed related assist.