Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Majority Of Americans Want Marijuana To Be Legal, Survey Says
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 5, 2013
Modified Apr 5, 2013
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
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 5, 2013
Modified Apr 5, 2013
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
With news of the NY State medical-weed legalization push once again upon us, a new poll says that for the first time ever, the majority of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized.
The poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center last month, found that 52 percent of adults in this country are pro-legalization, a marked difference from the 41 percent who were in favor of pot legalization in 2010. And more of these pro-respondents are older than they've been in previous years, with 50 percent of Baby Boomers voting for legalization as opposed to 17 percent in 1990 (65 percent of Americans born since 1980 are pro-legalization, which is probably not a super surprising statistic).
Some of these pro-votes might be because of the federal government's spectacularly expensive War on Drugs, with 72 percent of respondents saying the feds' drug-fighting ways "cost more than they are worth." And some of them might be because, well, most people have smoked weed at some point or another, and they didn't all burst into flames or become evil baby-killing crack demons. Almost half of all Americans say they've tried marijuana, up from 38 percent ten years ago. And only a third of individuals surveyed say they think marijuana usage is "morally wrong," down from about 50 percent of respondents back in 2006.
Meanwhile, though millennials are more or less overwhelmingly pro-pot legalization, Gen Xers are slightly more conservative, with only 54 percent leaning towards legalized weed.
Tagged
baby boomers
generation x
legalize weed
legalized drugs
marijuana
millennials
pew research center
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
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 .