More Americans Favor Legalization of Marijuana than Not, Says Barna Study

Marijuana
Marijuana consumption increased in Washington state after legalization, but no significant difference was observed in Colorado, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics. The authors suggested intensive preventive advertizing before legalization in states. |

The American public seems to hold a more positive view on the legalization of recreational marijuana, according to a new Barna Group study.

A survey carried out by the group says that about 40 percent of Americans now believe that recreational drugs like marijuana should be legalized, and the restrictions should only be applicable to hard drugs. A relatively smaller proportion of people (32 percent) says that all drugs should be illegal. Only about 13 percent of American adults think at all drugs can be made legal but will need to be regulated. And some 3 percent said that there is no need to even regulate drugs.

A lesser number of people now believe that all drugs should be illegal. The younger generation in particular has less inhibitions about legalizing drugs. Only about 29 percent of Millennials say that all drugs need to be made illegal. More Elders, on the other hand, agree that drugs should be illegal.

About 43 percent of Gen-Xers and 42 percent of Millennials favored legalization of recreational drugs, while a lesser number of Boomers (39 percent) and Elders (24 percent) held this view.

"The general population though -- particularly younger Americans -- have grown weary of the war on drugs and the pressures it has placed on law enforcement, prisons and tax dollars," said Roxanne Stone, editor in chief of Barna and director of the study.

Evangelicals hold the most conservative view of accessibility to drugs. As many as 66 percent of evangelicals say that all drugs should be illegal, and 43 percent of practicing Christians have the same opinion on average. Atheists were most likely to endorse legalization of drugs, as only 17 percent voted they are against it.

Some 16 percent of evangelicals and 34 percent of practicing Christians said that recreational drugs should be legalized. About 49 percent of atheists said the same.

"Christians have a long history of weighing the morality of alcohol and drug use," Stone noted. "Those debates will likely continue -- and more Christians, especially younger ones, will probably begin to see marijuana as an acceptable pastime."

Along political lines, more conservatives (51 percent) were against legalization of drugs, while only 17 percent of liberals opposed it.

A majority of liberals (51 percent) said that marijuana should be legalized, but fewer conservatives (27 percent) said the same.

Overall, the survey revealed that even though Americans were divided on the issue of legalization of drugs, most believed in regulation of drugs.

"This majority [of Americans] believe that a pragmatic regulatory framework that allows for the legal, licensed commercial production and retail sale of cannabis to adults, but restricts and discourages its use among young people is preferable to criminalization," said Paul Armentano, deputy director at National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

In November this year, nine states will vote on the issue of legalization of marijuana. Ballots will be cast in California, Massachusetts, Arizona, Nevada, and Maine to decide if it can be used for recreation, while Florida, Montana, Missouri, and Arkansas will vote on its use for medical purposes.