Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Majority of Americans Oppose Legalizing Marijuana
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 20, 2010
Modified Apr 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 20, 2010
Modified Apr 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Just after midnight on 4/20—a day celebrated by stoners around the world for reasons they've mostly forgotten—the Associated Press harshed the holiday's vibe by releasing the results of a nationwide survey about legalizing marijuana. The conclusion: we still live in a nation of uptight, reactionary Archie Bunker types who think it makes sense to throw away billions of taxpayer dollars for the sake of criminalizing a plant. Survey says:
- 55 percent of Americans oppose the legalization of marijuana.
- Predictably, people under 30 were the only age group favoring legalization (54 percent) and opposition increased with age, topping out at 73 percent of those 65 and older.
- Opposition was highest among women, Republicans and those in rural and suburban areas.
- Sixty percent support the idea of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, and 74 percent believe the drug has a real medical benefit for some people.
- 45 percent said the cost of enforcing existing laws is too high and 48 percent said "it's about right." Democrats, men and young people were most apt to say the cost is "exorbitant."
John Lovell, a spokesman with the California Narcotics Officers' Association, says the poll shows how worried Americans are about widespread abuse of legal prescription drugs and alcohol: "Given that reality, we don't need to add another mind-altering substance that compromises people's five senses." Because criminalizing pot has worked so well in making it unobtainable!
Here in New York, the State Senate is considering following New Jersey and legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. And in California, voters will decide whether to legalize weed at a referendum in November. All this has Americans like Ann Broadus, 58, of Petros, Tenn., worried sick: "Probably somewhere down the road it will be legalized, but I hope not. I think if it becomes legal, these druggies would be worse off." Thanks for your concern, Ann!
Tagged
legalize
marijuana
medicinal
poll
pot
prohibition
Survey
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .