Marijuana Support Wafts Higher
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Marijuana Support Wafts Higher
Support for marijuana legalization just hit a record high. A majority of every major demographic subgroup believes weed should be legal.
In 1969, only 12% of Americans thought marijuana should be legalized. But in the words of Bob Dylan, “the times, they are a-changin.” According to an October 2023 Gallup survey, a record 70% of Americans now support marijuana legalization.
For the second year in a row, a majority of every demographic subgroup Gallup measures thinks weed should be legalized. Unsurprisingly, the greatest support comes from liberals (91%) and Democrats (87%). And the least support comes from conservatives (52%) and Republicans (55%). In 2022, conservatives became the last subgroup to reach majority support.
By age, younger Americans are more likely to support legalization than older Americans. That being said, the age delta isn’t nearly as large as it was during the 1970s or 1980s: Over two-thirds (64%) of those ages 55+ now believe weed should be legal. (See “Boomers Still Toking Up.”) There were no significant differences by gender, race, or education. The survey also found equal support among residents of states that have already legalized weed and those in states where weed remains illegal.
On Tuesday, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana use. The successful ballot initiative is more evidence that weed can win in red-leaning states. Now 54% of Americans live in a state where recreational weed is legal.
Did You Know?
Camp YouTube? When most people think of summer camp, they imagine kids staying in cabins on the shores of pristine rural lakes. But now a new kind of youth program is emerging: An increasing number of summer camps and after-school activities focus on teaching kids to become influencers. This summer, Creator Camp enrolled 1,300 campers in 11 Texas locations. Next year, it will expand to 18 areas. During the day, kids learn to edit videos, create storyboards, write scripts, and use greenscreens. According to a 2019 survey by the Harris Poll, 30% of 8- to 12-year-olds chose “YouTuber” as their number one career choice. Gone are the days when kids dreamed of being astronauts like Neil Armstrong or tech titans like Steve Jobs. Now it’s grinding long hours to hawk somebody’s shampoo brand. (See “Teenagers’ Career Ambitions Narrowing.”)