In the United States, the proportion of adults who admit to using marijuana has shown a steady increase over the past decade, as per the latest survey data released by Gallup.

Last year, seventeen percent of Americans aged 18 and above reported smoking marijuana, a statistic that remains largely unchanged from Gallup’s recent findings. Comparatively, a year before that, sixteen percent of American adults acknowledged using marijuana.

However, the figure of 17% reflects a significant rise since 2013, when Gallup first introduced the question in its annual survey tracking Americans’ consumption patterns. During that period, only seven percent of American adults identified themselves as marijuana users.

Gallup’s analysis highlights age as a notable determinant in marijuana consumption. Approximately a quarter of young adults aged 18 to 34 (26%) report using marijuana, while the percentage drops to 18% among adults aged 35 to 54, and further decreases to 11% among those aged 55 and older.

Gallup also identifies other disparities in responses based on gender, educational attainment, and political affiliation. Men (19%) are more inclined to use marijuana compared to women (14%).

Similarly, college graduates (9%) are less likely to use marijuana in contrast to those without a college degree (21%).

Moreover, Democrats (22%) exhibit a higher prevalence of marijuana use than Republicans (12%), with independents (17%) falling between the two groups.

The survey also delved into respondents’ past marijuana use. Half of American adults, constituting 50%, admitted to having tried cannabis.

Gallup’s longitudinal data on past marijuana experimentation indicates a notable surge in the first decade following the initial measure.

Between 1969 and 1977, experimentation increased by 20 percentage points, from 4% to 24%. Subsequently, it rose by another nine points to 33% by 1985, plateauing at under 40% until 2015. It then saw a slight increase to 44% in 2021 and currently hovers around 49%.

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Gallup Poll Reflects Shifting American Views on Marijuana Legalization

Gallup’s polling on American perspectives regarding marijuana showcases a nation undergoing a significant shift in drug policy.

In November, Gallup unveiled a poll indicating that seven out of ten Americans endorse the legalization of marijuana, marking “the highest level yet after remaining steady at 68% for three years.”

Gallup highlighted that in 1969, only 12% of Americans supported legalization. However, since states spearheaded the end of marijuana prohibition nearly 12 years ago, public sentiment has undergone a remarkable transformation.

“Support surpassed the 50% mark in 2013, surging by 10 percentage points to 58% following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington,” explained Gallup in its analysis.

Subsequently, support has increased by an additional 12 points, mirroring the up tick in Americans’ reported marijuana use.

According to Gallup’s July Consumption Habits survey, the percentage of individuals admitting to personal marijuana consumption has risen by 10 points to 17% since 2013, and the percentage of those who have ever tried it has increased by 12 points to 50%.

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Majority of Americans Support Marijuana Legalization Across Demographic Groups

According to Gallup, the latest poll marks the second consecutive year where “majority support for legalization is found among all major subgroups, including by age, political party, and ideology.”

Gallup highlighted that self-identified conservatives were the last major subgroup to express majority support, reaching 51% in 2022.

Republicans first endorsed marijuana legalization at the majority level in 2017. Presently, support for legal marijuana use is highest among self-identified liberals (91%) and Democrats (87%), while it is lowest among conservatives (52%) and Republicans (55%). Support tends to decrease with age, yet even among the oldest age group, nearly two-thirds (64%) are in favor.

The report notes that there are no significant differences in support based on gender, race, or education. While most regional differences observed this year are not statistically significant, the lower support for legalization in the East compared to the West and Midwest aligns with recent trends.

However, Gallup also released another significant finding: “For the first time, a majority of U.S. adults, 52%, believe that the U.S. has lost ground in coping with the illegal drug problem, while a record-low 24% believe progress has been made.”

This marks a notable shift from the 2019 reading, where more Americans were optimistic about progress (41%) than those who believed the U.S. was losing ground (30%). In recent years, opinions were divided on whether the situation was improving or deteriorating.

Optimism regarding the nation’s handling of illegal drugs peaked in 1999 and 2000, with an average of 47% of Americans believing that the U.S. was making progress on the issue.