For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana
Before the costly War on Drugs (on Nixon's political enemies), support was 12%!
For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana
Support surged 10 percentage points in past year, to 58%
October 22, 2013 by Art Swift - http://www.gallup.com/poll/165539/first-time-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For marijuana advocates, the last 12 months have been a period of unprecedented success as Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana. And now for the first time, a clear majority of Americans (58%) say the drug should be legalized. This is in sharp contrast to the time Gallup first asked the question in 1969, when only 12% favored legalization.
Americans' Views on Legalizing Marijuana
Public support for legalization more than doubled in the 1970s, growing to 28%. It then plateaued during the 1980s and 1990s before inching steadily higher since 2000, reaching 50% in 2011.
A sizable percentage of Americans (38%) this year admitted to having tried the drug, which may be a contributing factor to greater acceptance.
Success at the ballot box in the past year in Colorado and Washington may have increased Americans' tolerance for marijuana legalization. Support for legalization has jumped 10 percentage points since last November ..........