A lot of Americans are supporting marijuana right now, and we’re kinda wondering how the law-makers can keep the illegality of it up.
We’re talking a record-high of 50%.
A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal.
When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed. Support remained in the mid-20s in Gallup measures from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30% in 2000 and 40% in 2009 before reaching the 50% level in this year’s Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey.
A Gallup survey last year found that 70% favored making it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana in order to reduce pain and suffering. Americans have consistently been more likely to favor the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes than to favor its legalization generally.
It’s incredible to look at the approval percentage over the years. We’d like to hear from those surveyed that were initially part of the 84% opposed and ask why they’ve changed their feelings on it.
Either way, it’s kind of ridiculous to have it illegal. While some might never choose to use it, that’s the best part — it’s a choice and nobody is forcing you to use it, just like nobody is forcing you to do 15 shots of whiskey before work.
[Image via AP Images.]