The legalization of marijuana is on the horizon in the USA

The United States (USA) is making slow but steady progress in its marijuana legalization process. Progress is being made, and new proposals are emerging. With that in mind, we’ll focus on the latest developments regarding marijuana legalization in the USA in this article. Table of Contents

Latest News

• A Change of Course!
• An Attractive Financial Niche
• The Noose Tightens for Opponents of Marijuana Legalization in the USA
• Gallup Survey Data on Marijuana in the USA
• Latest News

Indeed, recent information on marijuana legalization in the USA is quite promising for those who want to see this plant legalized nationwide. On the one hand, current figures (according to vox.com) indicate that nearly half the country—approximately 43% of the population—now lives in a state where marijuana is legal for recreational use. Therefore, marijuana could very well be legalized in half the country. On the other hand, following the previous trend, some states have made headlines regarding the

legalization of marijuana in the USA. These include New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and, more recently, New Mexico. Each has, in its own way, legalized the plant for recreational use. The relevant regulations have been defined or are in the process of being defined.

A change of course!

In fact, a few years earlier, particularly between 2010 and 2012, the topic of

legalizing marijuana in the United States It was almost taboo. Very few dared to talk about it. In this regard, the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use in 2012 were Colorado and Washington. It’s worth noting that they did so through initiatives led by voters. So, the question at the time was whether marijuana would ever be legalized in other US states. But, as this article is being written, the situation has changed. Why? Because we’ve gone from 2 states having legalized cannabis for recreational use in the US to 17. After 10 years, the process may seem slow. Nevertheless, progress is being made. It would be disingenuous to deny it. In short, we’re no longer in the realm of speculation (whether the plant will be legalized); rather, we’re in the realm of projection (when and how legalizations will occur in other states). Indeed, at least two-thirds of the American public support the change, based on various public opinion polls over the past few years.

An attractive financial niche Let’s not kid ourselves! The legalization of marijuana in the USA

doesn’t just benefit consumers. In fact, it means creating a new legal sales industry (alongside the illegal one that has always existed). And a new industry means new businesses. Therefore, it means a broadening of the states’ tax base; the emergence of new businesspeople in the sector.

From this perspective, if drug lords are generally distinguished by their opulence, it necessarily means that this sector generates profit. In this sense, this financial data could attract other states. Then, push them to take control of the sector, to make good use of the revenue generated. The net is closing in for those opposed to the legalization of marijuana in the USA. Indeed, as in many other countries, there are generally three main camps regarding the legalization of cannabis. On one side are those who support legalization, citing the plant’s purported benefits and individual freedoms. On the other are those who oppose legalization, arguing for public safety and consumer health. And in the middle are those who remain neutral and choose not to take a position.

That said, in the USA, the pressure seems to be mounting for those opposed to the legalization of marijuana. The facts speak for themselves. As the days go by, more and more states are legalizing the plant. Similarly, many researchers, eager to find treatments for complex illnesses, are taking an interest in this plant and its components. The evidence is there: scientific journals, studies, research, surveys, analyses, and so on. Furthermore, politicians and legislators are now taking the issue of cannabis legalization seriously, either of their own volition or pressured by public opinion. Until now, public opinion has been the driving force behind change in the US.

At this rate, the country could well find itself in a point of no return, back to square one.

Gallup Survey Data on Marijuana in the USIn fact, Gallup conducted a series of public surveys on the subject. We have translated their data for our readers less comfortable with English. The original version is

available on the Gallup website.

1 – Question: Do you think marijuana use should be legalized or not?

Yes, legal No, not legal

	No opinion	%	%
	%	2020 Sept. 30 Oct. 15	68
32	*	October 1-13, 2019	66
33	1	May 15-30, 2019	64
34	2	October 1-10, 2018	66
32	2	October 5-11, 2017	64
34	2	October 5-9, 2016	60
39	1	October 7-11, 2015	58
40	2	October 12-15, 2014	51
47	2	October 3-6, 2013	58
39	3	November 26-29, 2012	48
50	1	October 6-9, 2011	50
46	3	October 7-10, 2010	46
50	4	October 1-4, 2009	44
54	2	October 13-16, 2005	36
60	4	November 10-12, 2003	34
64	2	August 3-5, 2001	34
62	4	August 29, 2000 – September 5	31
64	5	August 28-30, 1995	25
73	2	May 17-20, 1985	23
73	4	June 27-30, 1980	25
70	5	June 18-21, 1979 May	25
70	5	April 1-4, 1977	28
66	6	January 26-29, 1973	16
78	6	March 3-5, 1972	15
81	4	October 2-7, 1969	12
84	4	^ Surveyed on a half sample;
* Less than 0.5% Gallup
2 – Question

: Next, I will read a list of the problems facing the country. For each one, please tell me if you are personally very, somewhat, slightly, or not at all concerned about that problem. How concerned are you personally about drug use?

	Good deal	Fair amount	Just a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
March 1-15, 2021	39	28	20	12	*
March 2-13, 2020	42	25	20	12	*
March 1-10, 2019	47	26	16	11	1
March 1-8, 2018	45	25	16	13	1
March 1-5, 2017	44	22	21	13	*
March 2-6, 2016	44	23	18	15	*
March 5-8, 2015	38	24	21	17	*
March 6-9, 2014	^	34	29	25	12
*	March 7-10 2013	36	24	23	17
*	March 8-11, 2012	42	24	21	13
*	March 3-6, 2011	40	24	21	14
1	March 4-7, 2010	37	27	22	13
1	March 6-9, 2008	43	24	24	9
*	March 11-14, 2007	45	26	20	8
*	March 13-16, 2006	48	25	18	9
*	March 7-10, 2005	42	23	24	11
*	March 8-11, 2004	46	19	20	14
1	March 24-25 2003	42	26	20	12
*	March 4-7, 2002	49	22	19	9
1	March 5-7, 2001	58	22	13	7
* ^ Surveyed on a half sample;

* Less than 0.5% Gallup

	3 – Question	: Next, I’m going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether you think it should be legal or not, for each one, please tell me if you personally think it is generally morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about smoking marijuana?		Morally acceptable	Morally wrong
	Depends (voluntary)	Not a moral issue (voluntary)	No opinion	%	%
%	%	%	May 1-13, 2020 ^	70	28
2	–	*	May 1-12, 2019 ^	65	33
1	1	*	May 1-10, 2018 ^	65	31
3 – 2
(voluntary) = voluntary response;

^ Surveyed on a half-sample;

		* Less than 0.5%	Gallup	4 – Question	Overall, how would you describe the drug problem – is it extremely serious, very serious, moderately serious, not too serious, or not serious at all? Extremely serious	Very serious
	Moderately serious	Not too serious	Not serious at all	No opinion	%	%
%
%	%	%	In the United States	October 1-13, 2019	37	36
22	4	1	*	October 1-10, 2018	37	32
22	5	2	2	October 5-11, 2017	33	38
23	4	1	*	October 5-9, 2016	32	33
27	6	2	2	October 6-9, 2011	n/A	n/A
n/A	n/A	n/A	n/A	October 1-4, 2009	35	33
26	5	1	1	October 4-7 2007	35	38
24	1	1	1	October 13-16, 2005	37	33
23	5	1	1	October 6-8, 2003	31	40
24	3	1	1	August 29, 2000 – September 5	43	40
15
1	1	* In the region where you live	October 1-13, 2019	16	17	37
22	8	*	October 1-10, 2018	14	17	37
22	10	1	October 5-11, 2017	13	16	36
20	12	2	October 5-9, 2016	13	19	35
20	11	1	October 6-9 2011	11	18	36
25	10	1	October 1-4, 2009	14	16	38
23	8	1	October 4-7, 2007	14	15	39
21	10	2	October 13-16, 2005	14	19	35
23	8	1	October 6-8, 2003	13	17	36
22	11	1	August 29, 2000 – September 5	13	21	39
19 6
2

* Less than 0.5%;

	n/a: Not requested	Gallup	5 – Question: Now, how much progress do you think the country has made over the past two years in addressing the problem of illicit drugs—has it made a lot of progress, made some progress, stopped, lost ground, or lost a lot of ground?		Made a lot of progress	Made some progress
	Stayed still	Lost ground	Lost a lot of ground	No opinion	%	%
%	%	%	%	October 2019	4	37
27	18	12	2	October 2018	5	33
26	19	14	3	October 2017	2	30
28	23	14	2	October 2011	3	28
31	21	14	3	October 2009	3	30
31	19	13	3	October 2007	3	31
31	19	13	3	October 2005	2	31
30	23	13	1	October 2003	3	35
32	17	11	2	2000 Sept	6	41
23	17	12	1	1999 Sept	4	42
27	14	12	1	1996 Nov	3	28
22	24	22	1	1995 Sept	2	36
30	19	11	2	1976 Jun	2	25
29	25	15	4	1974 Apr	4	36
21	19	16	5	1972 May	3	32
20

21 20

	5	Gallup	6 – Question: Bearing in mind that all your answers to this survey are confidential, have you ever tried marijuana?
	Yes, I tried	No, I didn’t	No opinion
%	%	%	July 1-12, 2019 ^
45	55	1	July 5-9, 2017 ^
45	55	*	July 13-17, 2016 ^
43	57	1	July 8-12, 2015 ^
44	55	1	July 10-14, 2013 ^
38	61	1	September 23-26, 1999
34	66	*	May 17-20, 1985 #
33	67	*	March 29, 1977 #
24	76	1	March 23, 1973 #
12	88	1	February 29, 1972 #
11	88	1	October 2-7, 1969 #
4 88 8
^ Surveyed on a half sample;

* Less than 0.5%;

		# WORDING: Have you ever tried marijuana?	Gallup
	7 – Question	: Bearing in mind that all your answers to this survey are confidential, do you yourself smoke marijuana?
Yes, do it	No, don’t do it	No opinion	%
%	%	July 1-12, 2019 ^	12
88	*	July 5-9, 2017 ^	12
88	1	July 13-17, 2016 ^	13
87	–	July 8-12, 2015 ^	11
88 *
July 10-14, 2013 ^

7 93

	*	^ Surveyed on a half sample;
	* Less than 0.5%	Gallup	8 – Question: Has drug abuse ever been a cause of problems in your family?
	Yes	No	No opinion
%	%	%	July 1-12, 2019
27	73	*	July 1-11, 2018
30	70	*	October 13-16, 2005
22	78	*	October 6-8, 2003
24	76	*	August 29, 2000 – September 5
22	78	*	September 23-26, 1999
17
83

* September 14-17, 1995

	19	81	*	* Less than 0.5%
	Gallup	9 – Question: Please indicate whether each of the following is a very important reason why you support the legalization of marijuana, a fairly important reason, or not an important reason. What would you say? Asked those who think marijuana should be legal.		Very important
Somewhat important	Not important	No opinion	%	%
%	%	Marijuana helps people who use it for medical reasons	86	12
2	– This would allow law enforcement to focus on other types of crime	70	23	7
– It’s a matter of freedom and personal choice	60	29	11	* It will provide a good source of tax revenue for state and local governments
56	30	13	* Government regulation of marijuana would make it safer for users	47
36	16	* You don’t think marijuana is harmful to users	35	43
19
3

* Less than 0.5% Gallup, May 15-30, 2019

	10 – Question	Please indicate whether each of the following reasons is a very important reason why you oppose the legalization of marijuana, a fairly important reason, or not an important reason. What would you say? Asked those who believe marijuana should not be legal.		Very important
	Somewhat important	Not important	No opinion	%
%	%	%	This would increase the number of car accidents involving drivers who use marijuana	79
12	8	* This would lead more people to use stronger and more addictive drugs	69	18
13	* This would encourage more people to use marijuana	62	21	17
* Legalizing marijuana would not greatly benefit society or individuals	60	21	18	* You think marijuana is harmful to people who use it
54	22	24	* You think drug use, including marijuana, is immoral	43
25	31	1	* Less than 0.5%	Gallup, May 15-30, 2019
11 – Question: Next, please indicate how often you currently smoke or use each of the following products – regularly, Occasionally or never. And marijuana?
Regularly

Sometimes Never

	No opinion	%	%	%
	%	July 1-11, 2018	5	8
87	*	* Less than 0.5%	Gallup	12 – Question: In general, how harmful do you feel each of the following is to the people who use them – very harmful, somewhat harmful, not very harmful, or not harmful at all? And marijuana?
Very harmful
Somewhat harmful

Not very harmful Not harmful at all

	Depends (voluntary)	No opinion	%	%	%	%
	%	%	July 1-11, 2018	27	29	24
18	1	1	(voluntary) = voluntary response.		Gallup	13 – Question
: For each of the following drugs, please indicate how much of a problem you think it is in your area – is it a crisis, a very serious problem but not a crisis, a fairly serious problem, or not really a problem?
Crisis

Very serious problem Fairly serious problem

	Not really a problem	No opinion	%	%	%
	%	%	Heroin	17	25
22	29	7	Prescription Painkillers	14	30
28	24	5	Cigarettes	10	23
33	33	2	Alcohol	8	24
35	32	1	Cocaine	8	20
29	37	7	Marijuana	6	17
25	50	2	June 14-23, 2016	Gallup	14 – Question: How much have you heard or read about problems related to a type of prescription painkiller known as an opioid – a lot, some, only a little, or nothing at all?
A lot

Some Just a little

	Nothing at all	No opinion	%	%	%
	%	%	June 14-23, 2016	46	19
15	18	1	Gallup	15 – Question: To what extent do you blame each of the following for the opioid problem – a lot, some, only a little, or not at all?
Many

Some Just a little

	Not at all	No opinion	%	%	%
	%	%	Pharmaceutical industry encourages doctors to use opioids	55	22
13	7	4	Doctors overprescribe painkillers to their patients	53	27
14	5	2	Lack of public awareness about the dangers of opioids	49	28
14	8	1	Patients demanding a prescription for pain relief	47	29
16	5	3	June 14-23, 2016	Gallup	16 – Question: As you may know, marijuana use is legal in some states. Do you think the federal government should take steps to enforce federal laws against marijuana in those states, or not? Yes, should
No, should not
No opinion

% %

	%	November 26-29, 2012	34
	64	1	Gallup
17 – Question: Would you support or oppose making marijuana legally available to doctors to reduce pain and suffering?	Support	Oppose	No opinion
%

% %

	October 7-10, 2010	70	27
	3	October 13-16, 2005	78
22	*	November 10-12, 2003	75
22	3	March 19-21, 1999	73
25	2	* Less than 0.5%;
^ WORD: Would you vote for or against making marijuana legally available to doctors to reduce pain and suffering?	Gallup	18 – Question	Some people have proposed legalizing marijuana and then taxing its sale as a way to generate revenue for state governments. Would you support or oppose this in the state where you live?
Support Oppose
No opinion

% %

	%	October 1-4, 2009 ^	42
	56	2	^ Asked a half-sample
Gallup	20 – Question	: Do you think that possession of small amounts of marijuana should or should not be considered a criminal offense?
Yes, should be
No, should not be

No opinion %

	%	%	October 13-16, 2005 ^
	43	55	2
November 10-12, 2003 ^	52	46	1
August 29, 2000 – September 5 ^	51	47	2
May 17-20, 1985	50	46	4
June 27-30, 1980	43	52	5
April 1-4, 1977	41	53	6
^ Asked a Half-sample	Gallup	References	https://news.gallup.com/poll/1657/illegal-drugs.aspx
https://www.vox.com/2021/4/12/22371929/marijuana-legalization-new-mexico-virginia-new-york-biden?mc_cid=f29051675e&mc_eid=35711c3bd8
https://ctmirror.org/2021/04/13/connecticut-legalize-pot/?mc_cid=f29051675e&mc_eid=35711c3bd8

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