In April 2024, Pew Research, a widely respected nonpartisan think tank, published 9 facts about Americans and Marijuana, unleashing some interesting tidbits.
Here are some key facts about Americans’ attitudes toward and experiences with marijuana. Is there a particular stat that surprises you most?
Support for marijuana legalization is widespread, with around nine-in-ten Americans expressing support for either medical or recreational use, according to a January 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Only 11% believe marijuana should remain illegal in any form.
Views on marijuana legalization vary significantly by age, political affiliation, and race and ethnicity. For instance, younger adults, Democrats, and Black Americans are more likely to support legalization for both medical and recreational purposes.
Older adults: Among adults aged 75 and older, 31% support marijuana legalization for both medical and recreational purposes, compared to 50% among those aged 65 to 74, the next youngest age group. In contrast, 71% of adults under 30 support legalization for both uses.
Republicans and GOP-leaning independents: 42% of Republicans favor legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational uses, while 72% of Democrats and Democratic leaners hold the same view. Additionally, within both parties, individuals who are more conservative are less likely to support legalization.
Hispanic and Asian Americans: Both Hispanic and Asian Americans show similar levels of support for legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, with 45% in each group expressing support. In comparison, larger shares of Black (65%) and White (59%) adults support legalization for both purposes.
Over the past two decades, support for marijuana legalization has surged. In 2023, 70% of adults expressed support for legalization, compared to just a fraction in 2000.
According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, half of U.S. adults report having ever used marijuana, and a smaller percentage are current users. That’s much less than the 84.1% who say they have ever consumed alcohol and the 64.8% who insists they’ve tried tobacco products, including vaped nicotine.
In 2022, 23% had used marijuana in the past year, and 15.9% in the past month.
Many Americans believe that legalizing recreational marijuana has economic benefits, with 52% saying it is good for local economies.
There is some disagreement regarding the impact of marijuana legalization on the criminal justice system, use of other drugs, and community safety. Democrats and younger adults tend to perceive more positive impacts in these areas.
An October 2021 Center survey found that most Americans support easing penalties for people with marijuana convictions, including releasing individuals from prison and expunging related offenses from criminal records.
As of March 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, with an additional 14 states legalizing it for medical use only.
Per a February Center analysis, a significant majority of Americans live in states where marijuana is legal for either medical or recreational use, and around 79% reside in counties with at least one cannabis dispensary.
These trends reflect a shifting landscape in attitudes toward and policies surrounding marijuana use in the United States.
