69 % of Americans now in favor of legalizing cannabis

In the United States, support for cannabis legalization has reached a record high according to a new poll, with 69 % of Americans now saying they favor ending prohibition.

All demographics now support legalization, including among those 65 and over (51 %) and Republicans (62 %).

Quinnipiac University, which conducted the new poll, has been studying Americans' stance on the issue since 2012. At that time, 51% of Americans were in favor of legalization, with strong disparities across population groups. This strong support comes as 16 states have already legalized cannabis and many others are considering or studying proposals to do so, while at the federal level several proposals were presented to legalize.

The survey was conducted among 1,237 American adults from April 8 to 12. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

In 2019, the same institute measured that 60% of those surveyed were in favor of legalization, a strong evolution in three years.

While opinion evolves, federal policy takes its time. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said last month that the Joe Biden's position on the issue «He has never said whether he would sign or veto a bill if it reached his desk.

His position could be put to the test in the weeks or months ahead, Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer having recently pointed out that a federal legalization bill would be published «shortly» and sent to the Senate «soon».

On the House side, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler recently said he plans to reintroduce his cannabis legalization bill, the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which was adopted by the Chamber last year but made no headway in the GOP-controlled Senate.