Poll: 44 Percent Support Marijuana Legalization

5151079A new poll from Gallup shows that 44 percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana, with 54 percent opposed. This is the highest-ever support for legalization in the Gallup poll.

The poll comes on the heels of the announcement by the Obama administration yesterday telling federal prosecutors not to focus on medical marijuana users and suppliers in states where medical marijuana is legal.

Gallup reports that support for pot legalization was in the 25 percent range during the 1970s through the 1990s, but jumped to 31 percent in 2001 and has been rising throughout this decade. In the most recent CBS News poll on the subject, conducted in July, 41 percent said they thought marijuana should be made legal.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Marijuana Nation
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Andrew Cohen: New Pot Policy Is Not Yet a Turning Point

The Gallup poll also reveals some interesting statistics on attitudes about marijuana legalization based on regional and demographic information. In the West, a majority (53 percent) say they would support legalization in their state as a way to generate revenue through taxing marijuana. Support for such a plan is only in the 30s in the South and Midwest, however, with the East coming in at 44 percent on the question.

When it comes to age, younger people, not surprisingly, are more likely to support pot legalization. According to the poll, 50 percent of those 18 to 49 support legalization, which represents an 11 percent jump since 2005. But just 28 percent over the age of 65 do, with 45 percent support by those between 50 and 64.

When it comes to ideology, the poll finds that liberals are overwhelmingly in favor of legalization (78 percent) and conservatives are overwhelmingly opposed (72 percent). Moderates as a group are just slightly opposed, with 46 in favor and 51 percent opposed.

Read more on the poll here from Gallup

More CBSNews.com Coverage on Marijuana Legalization Efforts:

Will Health Coverage Pay for Medical Marijuana?
America's Love-Hate History with Pot
Inside Holland's "Half Baked" Pot Policy
Pot No Longer Focus of Anti-Drug Campaigns
Does the Pot Pill Work?
CBSNews.com Special Report: Marijuana Nation

[MatterofLiberty]

Ha that poll is low even!! There is a Cannabis "witch-hunt" going on in this country right now you can be persecuted in property, liberty, and your career for using or supporting peoples rights still so lets ask ourselves: How many people were too scared to answere the poll truthfully?

[jaysmouth]

These polls are flawed. How many people do you know that are against marijuana reform? It is only nutjobs that answer most of these surveys. A large majority of Americans and us in Canada support legal weed. Cannabis is the greatest medicine in the world.

Doctors smoke it, lawyers smoke it , legalize it thats the best thing you can do....

Free Marc Emery. Prince of Pot.

[ddog88]

How come the 1950's will never end? Why do old white rich guys always get their way and the common people of this country get the run around. Oh yea, money. But hey, marijuana is green. Don't fear it old rich white guys. Pot won't hurt you. Please stop locking up pot heads and putting them in the same prisons as mean people. That's not very nice.

[miniv948]

Obama just has to realize who cares what people would say. Marijuana would solve all the problems in the world not even having to do with economy. But health factors and taking over tabacco and alcohol companies. I support getting rid of all flavor tabacco...I mean why kill your lungs and your brain, when you can smoke marijuana. Plus its twice as good as anything else as long as your not smoking those midssss.

[miniv948]

And also like all this propaganda for alcohol during footall games and stuff. Like how are they going to have commercials for marijuana...Video games or food adds I guess, even though its not the issue, thats what alot of it is about.

[kangaroolipstick]

I think its more than 44% in favor of legalization. I didn't take this poll.. Who took this poll? There is people in front of my Local Walmart gathering signatures to legalize in some way. There is a mob of people signing every day. I think its more than 44% of the people coming out of that store.. Even go on Facebook and look at the stupid Polls Application and you will see that 80% of people or more are for legalization. Yes, most are minors but the times are changing and for the better..

[pickaguitar1]

This is cool!

[babooph]

Endless years of wasted police costs,prisons packed with addicts ,while violent creeps are released to make room-a policy for fools,by fools-FAILURE at the highest level& nothing learned....

[toddlarado]

Phone polls are not accurate for Marijuana Questions. Plus you can add another 5 to 10% for tr people would would vote yes wen placed in a PRIVATE booth.

[cleanMountainAir]

Very true. Several years ago I received such a call from the fine people at Gallup. Probably. At the time I was working for an extremely conservative outfit and there's really only so much you're willing to risk on an unsolicited phone call from a stranger when it could mean your job. My answers were less than honest. Given my experience with the sudden pressure to decide what to say in a two minute phone call...... legalization supporters are already well in the majority. I wonder if some of the regional bias they're finding is just an echo of the severity of the laws. How hard is it to come out for weed when you're in a state that possession of an ounce will net you a $100 fine?

[kansas1946]

Will, I am 63 and I support legalization. The harm that making marijuana illegal has done to our society is immeasurable.

[sarcasticfrog]

Decriminalize marijuana. That is all that needs to be done.