A recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that a substantial majority of Americans express cannabis legalisation support in some form. The survey, published on Tuesday and reported by Marijuana Moment, found that 55 percent of U.S. adults advocate for legalising cannabis for both recreational and medical use. An additional 33 percent believe it should be legal exclusively for medical purposes. This combined figure means 88 percent of Americans support some level of cannabis legalisation, while only 11 percent believe it should remain entirely illegal.
Demographic and Political Divisions in Cannabis Legalisation Support
Party Affiliation and Policy Views
The Pew Research Center’s analysis highlighted majority support for some form of cannabis legalisation across political affiliations. Democrats demonstrated stronger backing for the reform, with 67 percent favouring legalisation for any use and another 27 percent supporting medical cannabis legalisation only. Among Republicans, 44 percent supported legalising both medical and recreational cannabis, while an additional 39 percent supported medical use exclusively.
The survey further noted that views among specific political subgroups showed similar levels of support. “Conservative and moderate Democrats (56%) and moderate and liberal Republicans (54%) express similar levels of support,” the Pew analysis stated. This indicates a degree of cross-party consensus on the issue, particularly within centrist segments of both major parties.
Age and Racial Demographics
Support for full cannabis legalisation was most pronounced among younger adults. The poll found that 63 percent of individuals under the age of 30 supported broad legalisation. Regarding racial demographics, Black Americans showed slightly higher support for broad legalisation at 61 percent, compared to 58 percent of white Americans. Support among Hispanic Americans was 45 percent, and among Asian Americans, it was 34 percent for broad legalisation.
Public Perception of State Cannabis Laws
A separate question within the January 2026 survey, which polled 8,512 U.S. adults with a margin of sampling error of +/- 1.4 percentage points, asked respondents about the strictness of their state’s current cannabis laws. The results indicated a divided public:
- 36 percent of U.S. adults believed their state’s laws were “about right.”
- 21 percent considered them “too strict.”
- 19 percent thought they were “not strict enough.”
- 24 percent were unsure.
Views varied significantly based on the existing legal status of cannabis in each state. In states where cannabis is legal for both recreational and medical use, 47 percent of residents felt the laws were “about right.” In these states, 25 percent believed the laws were “not strict enough,” and only 7 percent considered them “too strict.” Conversely, in states where cannabis remains criminalised for any use, 40 percent of residents found the laws “too strict,” 22 percent deemed them “about right,” and 10 percent thought they were “not strict enough.” The Pew Research Center noted that views in states with medical-only legalisation were generally similar to those in states where the drug is prohibited.
Consistent Trends in Public Opinion
The Pew Research Center indicated that Americans’ views on cannabis legalisation “have held relatively steady since 2019,” building on earlier coverage of public opinion trends. An earlier survey published by Pew last year similarly reported that nearly nine in 10 Americans supported some form of legalisation. Furthermore, a separate Pew poll this year on the morality of various activities found that more U.S. adults consider using cannabis morally acceptable, or not a moral issue, than they do for activities such as gambling or watching pornography.
Other recent surveys corroborate the trend of increasing cannabis legalisation support. A YouGov survey published last month indicated that 59 percent of U.S. adults desired cannabis legalisation, including 75 percent of Democrats, 50 percent of Republicans, and 54 percent of independents. A Gallup poll from late last year also reported that 64 percent of Americans now support legalising cannabis.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hemp Gazette does not provide medical recommendations, diagnoses, or treatment plans. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before making any decisions regarding your health or any medical condition. Statements concerning the therapeutic uses of hemp, cannabis, or cannabinoid-derived products have not been evaluated by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Medicinal cannabis products in Australia are accessed via prescription pathways under TGA regulation.
