US Public Opinion on Cannabis
70% of US adults support adult-use cannabis legalization in 2024 — an all-time high, up from 31% in 2000 and 58% in 2013 when support first crossed a majority. Support for medical cannabis has reached 88%, 57% of Americans have tried cannabis, and 81% expect federal cannabis legalization within their lifetime. Cannabis is now one of the least-polarizing policy issues in US politics, with majority support across every political party. The polling below answers what percentage of Americans support cannabis legalization, how cannabis support has grown since the first national polls in 1969, and how support breaks down by party, age group, and region.
Cannabis Public Opinion at a Glance
Cannabis Support by Political Party (2024)
| Party | Support Adult-Use | Support Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 82% | 93% |
| Independents | 72% | 88% |
| Republicans | 55% | 79% |
Republican support has risen from 20% in 2000 to 55% in 2024 — cannabis is no longer a partisan issue.
Support Trend — 1969 to 2024
Gallup has polled adult-use cannabis legalization continuously since 1969:
- 1969: 12% support
- 2000: 31% support
- 2013: 58% support (first majority ever recorded)
- 2018: 66% support
- 2024: 70% support (all-time high)
Support has grown roughly +1.2 percentage points per year since 2014. No major US polling organization has measured declining support in any year since 2010.
Why Cannabis Support Keeps Growing
- Generational replacement — younger adults consistently support legalization at higher rates; as older cohorts pass, overall support rises mechanically.
- Direct experience — as more states legalize, more voters directly experience the absence of predicted harms (crime, youth use, etc.) and update their beliefs.
- Tax revenue — visible state education and infrastructure funding from cannabis taxes has moved fiscally-conservative voters.
- Criminal justice framing — recognition that cannabis enforcement has been racially disproportionate has moved center-left voters who weren't users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What percentage of Americans support cannabis legalization?
Q.Do Republicans support cannabis legalization?
Q.What percentage of Americans have tried cannabis?
Q.Do Americans think cannabis will be federally legal?
Q.Has cannabis public opinion changed recently?
Q.How does cannabis support compare to other policy issues?
Sources: Gallup Poll 2024, Pew Research Center 2024, Marist Poll, General Social Survey.
More Cannabis Statistics
US Cannabis Market Size Statistics
US legal cannabis market size, growth rate, and projections through 2030. State-by-state revenue, CAGR, and global comparison.
Cannabis Consumer Demographics
Who buys legal cannabis in the US? Consumer demographics including age, gender, income, use frequency, and top purchase reasons.
Cannabis Product Category Statistics
Market share by cannabis product category — flower, vapor pens, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, beverages, topicals. Year-over-year growth trends.
Cannabis Industry Employment Statistics
US cannabis industry employs 440,000+ full-time workers. State-by-state job counts, growth trends, and largest employers.
Cannabis Tax Revenue Statistics
State cannabis tax revenue 2025 and cumulative since legalization. Where cannabis tax money goes by state.
US Cannabis Legalization Timeline
Full timeline of cannabis legalization in the United States from California's 1996 Prop 215 through 2026 adult-use markets.
Cannabis Prices by State
Average retail cannabis price per gram by US state in 2025. Cheapest and most expensive states for legal cannabis, wholesale prices, and pricing trends.
