Record 7 in 10 support legalized marijuana: Gallup

Seven in 10 respondents in a Gallup survey published Wednesday said they support the legalization of marijuana in the U.S., the first time Gallup has registered support that high.

The poll found that 70 percent of respondents believe that the recreational drug should be legalized in the country, while 29 percent of those surveyed said the recreational drug should remain illegal.

Support for the legalization of recreational use of the drug had held steady at 68 percent for the last three years.

Eighty-seven percent of Democrat respondents said they’d support the legalization of marijuana, while 70 percent of independent respondents said the same thing. 

Fifty-five percent of Republican respondents said they’d support legalization. 

Analyzing by race, 72 percent of respondents who identify as nonwhite adults said they’d support legalizing marijuana’s use, while 69 percent of white respondents had the same sentiment.

Seventy-nine percent of respondents between 18 and 34 said they’d support legalization, while 71 percent between 35 and 54 said the same. 

Sixty-four percent of respondents 55 or older back legalization, the poll said. 

Ohio voters passed a resolution Tuesday legalizing recreational use of marijuana in the state. Ohio became the 24th state, along with Washington, D.C., to do so. 

The passed measure, Issue 2, will allow adults 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants at their residence. It also establishes a 10 percent tax on marijuana sales.

The Gallup poll was conducted Oct. 2-23 with a total of 1,009 respondents. The margin of error was 4 percentage points.