Marijuana legalization support at record high

A man smokes a joint at a pro-marijuana "4/20" celebration in front of the state capitol building April 20, 2010, in Denver. / Getty Images

Never before have more Americans believed legalizing marijuana was the right course for the country.

In a new Gallup poll, 50 percent of respondents in a nationwide survey said they believed it was time to make pot legal. About 46 percent came out against it.

Support for legalizing marijuana tended to be stronger among younger, more liberal groups, according to Gallup. Legalization received 62 approval among those aged 18 to 29, but got only 31 percent approval among those 65 and older. Liberals were twice as likely as conservatives to favor legalizing marijuana.

In a release, Gallup writes: "When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12 percent of Americans favored it, while 84 percent 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 percent in 2000 and 40 percent in 2009 before reaching the 50 percent level in this year's Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey."

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If the steady climb in public support for marijuana legalization continues at its current pace, politicians will soon have to address the laws that fly in the face of that movement in opinion.

Already, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that marijuana is America's preferred illegal drug. In 2009, the NIDA released a report estimating that 28.5 million Americans age 12 and older had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior. By contrast, 51.9 percent of Americans age 12 and older (or roughly 100 million people) had used alcohol at least once in the 30 days prior to being surveyed; while 23.7 percent had binged (5+ drinks within 2 hours.)

Last year, Gallup released a poll claiming as many as 70 percent of Americans approved of the use of medical marijuana.

This growing change in public opinion comes at a critical time for marijuana policy in America. Sixteen states have legalized the use of medical marijuana in some form, and some are even considering decriminalizing the drug's recreational use. However, the federal government, while once suggesting it would leave it up to the states, has begun promising enforce federal drug laws when it comes to marijuana. The feds recently sent letters warning that they will soon be cracking down heavily on California's famed and large medical marijuana industry.

[brwing]

Not so fast. Marijuana leads to other drugs and in and of itself changes the brain. I say no.
My brother started on Marijuana. He died of a drug overdose.
End of story.

[ruckaisawesome]

thats bullcrap. First off, Unless you experienced marijuana firsthand, you have no right to criticize it. I done countless of times for the past several years, and never once have I considered taking "hard drugs". There's only a very small percentage of people who actually does. It's like saying all achohal users will eventually become alchohalics. Secondly, It doesn't cause changes in the brain if you use it responsibly. I smoke twice a week, and feels no withdraws or negative symptoms at all. If you abuse it, then it may cause slight decline but that applies for a lot of things. For example, if you eat macdonalds everyday, your health will severely decline within just a month. Lastly, you cant die from a marijuana overdose. I assume your brother died from taking other drugs. He's death isn't because he started on marijuana...It's because he abused it and made bad choices when he started taking hard drugs.

[HighRiseLanding]

Nope. You can say you started off using anything -- even caffeine -- and ended up using hard drugs. Or start with hard drugs and try marijuana later. The REAL gateway is the drug dealer who is pushing other drugs on you.

[RUANIM8]

The USA uses Corn to make fuel additivs so everytime the cost of fule goes up food that is directly related to Corn increases in price exponentialy. This is because of the limited supply of corn being used for both stock feed and fuel to get it to the table. Hemp oil which is also a fuel additive generates hemp cake after pressing. Hemp cake can be used as stock feed even as food for peple. Now let me see, corn causes an exponential cost increase in the bottom line to get food to the table and hemp oil production causes a decress in cost, and we elect our public officials for their intelligence and ethics . Land of the Dollar Bill will soon replace Land of Freedom.

[RUANIM8]

Two significant factors of "Criminalizing" Marihuanna are over looked 1] is that the developement of Polymer plastics. It was difficult to sell a plastic rope when it had low tensil strngth and started breaking down the minute it was subject to sunlight, and when a rope twice the size of hemp rope could not even begin to compare in strength 2] The developement of Hybridized seed which allowed the Gov't to directly tax farmers on food production doesn't work with cannabis. Cannabis seeds are allways fertile.
The DO GOODERS seem to moverlook the founding principal of representation for taxation Tobaco has come under heavy attack, but no one wants to remember the tax dollars spent from tobaco sales at least the smokers contributed to building of Americ and the whiners , they just want a free tax dollar to spend on creating wellfare jobs that only add to the budget deficit.

[cosmodian]

know what's verry disturbing.the US.has legalized homosexuals;witch spreds diseases,and goes againts the creator of all things,and of the universe,and common sense.we are all suppose be prosperous,and multiply.but yet and still our Government has made a crime againts the allmighty. legalizing Mariyuana hurts no one .and will put a big dent in more powerfull drugs that are killing are children!maybe the Government wants use to do harder drugs;the secret might be that the harder drugs are part of the GMP of not only the US,but the world...if true this is all true this verry said to find out.that our nation is really the Devil in disguise

[moretruthnow]

Aren't you a bit off topic. We should legalize marijuana. It will be a forward step that will end so many young people ending up in prison. It will also cut down on the thousands of dollars that serious drug pushers get from marijuana sales.

[JGCitygin]

Our great Promised Land isn't the devil in disguise. But his children are ruling and overruling everything good and decent and beautiful. The list is too long, here. GOD has the list.
HE doesn't like ugly.
Read The Book Of Joel: you'll get the picture!

[ibjackiej]

How did Marijuana get it's nickname, Pot?

[jhutchis92]

this is good news however the poll was misstated. The actual poll results where a 52% 48% difference; ie 2% gain for legalization. In only a little over 10 years the approval went from 30% to 52% leading one to believe that in another 10 years one might see a even larger margin of 10%; however, one can hope that total legalization would of occurred by then. Legalization makes sense economically and socially. A plant made illegal by propagandist and a smear campaign is still viewed by many politicians as harmful however well developed scientific research proves otherwise. Possession in many states, even in amounts as little as a flake, can lead to 36+ hours of community service and a year of probation. So the question to ask is how can a plant be so widely accepted still be illegal? The FEDS. The feds claim weed is illegal on a national level while state laws directly state otherwise. The fed was created to stop abuse of power and promote equality... states are supposed to have the ability to create their own laws however the fed seems to think it is their job to go against the fed and attack medical dispensaries. Medical dispensaries are one of the largest producers of tax revenues in small communities and therefore are large contributors of community funds and community well being. Even with record setting figures do you see the talk of marijuana in politics? With the exception of Ron Paul no politician is willing to push for this because they would loose a overwhelming majority of voters as well as be subject to widespread criticism from the FED, and other political groups that might directly offer funds for any campaign. While I would love to see marijuana being legal I believe major political reform (specifically the FED) and change in policy are needed for this dream to become reality.

On the issue of growing weed in your backyard...only if the following measures are met: Outside of residential areas/city limits, fenced areas only (6-7+ ft required), have laws similar to zoning laws allowing growth only in certain areas, and possible plant number restrictions.

[DavLud2]

I have just read about 10 pages of comments here, and have done quite a bit of web research on the marijuana legalization issue over the years, and find that I am in agreement with the pro-legalization position. Marijuana has been proven safe compared to alcohol and nicotine, while certainly habit forming is not at all physically addictive, and does not induce people to do stupid or violent things like alcohol often does. And if we separate the source of marijuana from criminals selling other types of dangerous drugs and participating in other illegal activities, then the gateway drug concern for common marijuana use is eliminated too.

Regulate it, tax it, sell it at liquor stores.

I am however concerned about the idea of growing it in our back yards. If that was legal, how do we protect young kids in our neighborhoods from easily acquiring it? And an even bigger question is how do we prevent neighborhood "gunfights" by homeowners hell-bent on protecting their marijuana plant from night-time fence-jumping teenagers?

[InconvenientReality]

Young kids can easily obtain it *now*. In my twenties, it was easier to find people willing to sell me drugs (assuming that everyone who offered was in fact willing) than people willing to sell me alcohol. I'm guessing that legalizing will probably make it harder for kids to get ahold of it.

Gunfights with growers will be a lot less common if the growers can call the cops and complain that those durn kids are on the lawn pulling up the weed again. I don't see a lot of combat going on for control of the alcohol market now, even though I can legally brew a fairly large amount.

[DavLud2]

IncovenientReality: I agree that legalizing and regulating its sale will probably make it more difficult for kids to get a hold of it. However, having it growing freely in backyards up and down neighborhood streets is another thing altogether. I don't think that's a good idea.

And there is little fear that kids would be breaking into a house looking for legalized weed, just as they aren't likely to break in now looking for your home brewed beer. But pot plants freely growing in backyards though? That's too easy and tempting of a target.

[DrCroaker]

This is the best news headline ever.

[erichsh]

I think the guy in the picture is an OWS protester.

[yeeoflittlefaith]

I know for shure who's against legalization ... Mexican drug cartels.

[Givemeabreak12]

He would sure get my vote, but hey, I voted for him the first time too. Just make the weed leagle so I can quit smoking then dang "Dandy Lions" LOL