Gallup registers highest ever support for marijuana legalization nationwide

46% support legalization, 50% oppose, 4% undecided

(Gallup) WASHINGTON, D.C. — While California’s marijuana ballot initiative is garnering a lot of attention this election cycle, Gallup finds that nationally, a new high of 46% of Americans are in favor of legalizing use of the drug, and a new low of 50% are opposed. The increase in support this year from 44% in 2009 is not statistically significant, but is a continuation of the upward trend seen since 2000.

I’m more excited about the 50% oppose number than the 46% support number.  We’ve reached a point where only half of Americans nationwide believe pot smokers are criminals.

A separate question in the poll asked about legalizing marijuana for medical use, and found support significantly higher than it is for legalizing the use of marijuana in general. Seventy percent of Americans say they favor making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering. This figure is down, however, from 78% in 2005 and 75% in 2003.

I think some people are tired of having their leg peed on...

And that tells me that the time of medical marijuana as the marijuana reform issue has reached its zenith.  The people who always supported medical marijuana are still there, but the fence-sitters we convinced with compassion are feeling bamboozled when they see opposition’s videos of Venice Beach pot docs.

In 2005, support for marijuana legalization was 36% and the support for medical marijuana was 78%.  I think it is safe to assume everybody who supports legalization supports medical.  That gives us 42% of medical supporters who support pot for sick people, but not healthy people.  Now the numbers are 46% and 70%, respectively, giving us 24% who only support medical, which means medical-only support has dropped 18 percentage points!

Not just liberal Democrats support legalization; we've now convinced the moderate Independents.

Political Leanings, Age Divide Americans’ Support for Legalizing Marijuana

Across numerous subgroups, liberals’ support, at 72%, is by far the highest. There is widespread support for legalization among 18- to 29-year-olds (61%) as well.

Majority support is also found among Democrats, independents, men, and political moderates.

A large majority of those living in the West, which encompasses California, are in favor of making the drug legal. Support is significantly lower in the South and Midwest.

Political conservatives and Republicans are the least supportive of legalizing marijuana. Seniors express a similarly low level of support.

Women are 10 percentage points less likely than men to favor legalizing the drug.