Despite the majority of voters overwhelmingly supporting the legalization of marijuana, half of the public believes it poses a risk to society, according to a new poll.
While 45% of respondents said the drug has a negative effect on most users, 50% said they believe the drug is detrimental to society as a whole. More than half, 53%, said marijuana has a positive effect on most users, according to a new poll from Gallup published Tuesday.
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Those who have used the drug are far more likely to believe that it has a positive effect on both users and society than those who report never having used marijuana.
Since 2015, the amount of people who report ever having used the drug has remained relatively steady at just under half.
Gallup first asked the public about marijuana use in 1969, and only 4% reported having tried it. Young people and men are more likely to have used the drug than older people or women. Democrats are also more likely to report having used marijuana than Republicans.
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Currently, marijuana for recreational use is legal in 19 states, as well as both Washington, D.C. The drug is available for medicinal use in 38 states and Washington, D.C. However, the drug remains a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act federally. Thus, the government views the drug as having both a “high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.”
