Poll: 60% of U.S. Voters Back Federal Cannabis Legalization

A Morning Consult/Politico poll released Wednesday found that 60% of U.S. voters believe cannabis should be federally legalized. The survey found that 27% of all voters preferred it remains outlawed with 13% unsure. 

The reforms were backed by 71% of Democrats, 61% of independents, and 47% of Republicans; they were opposed by 16% of Democrats, 24% of independents, and 41% of Republicans polled. 

Legalization saw the strongest support, 71%, among 35-44-year-olds (17% opposed), followed by 69% of 18-34-years-olds (17% opposed), 59% of 45-65-year-olds (30% opposed), and 45% of voters 65-and-older (41% opposed). 

A majority of voters across all racial demographics backed the reforms, in all 72% of Black voters, 67% of Hispanic voters, 58% of White voters, and 57% of voters who identified as another race.   

A Gallup poll from last November found that 68% of Americans backed the reforms, maintaining the record level of support ever measured by the pollster. 

The poll was released just one day prior to President Joe Biden (D) announcing the pardoning of all federal cannabis possession charges – the most significant step to reform federal cannabis policy since the enactment of the Controlled Substances Act, which outlawed cannabis in 1970.  

In a statement posted online, Biden added that his Secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Attorney General would “initiate the administrative process to review expeditiously how marijuana is scheduled under federal law,” which could lead to the rescheduling or descheduling of cannabis under federal law.