Millenials, baby boomers or Generation X: who's in favor of legalizing cannabis in the United States?

While France saw, for the first time, a poll showing that a majority of The French were in favor of legalizing cannabis, some countries, including the United States, have already begun to change the rules surrounding the prohibition of cannabis.

Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, but each state can decide whether or not to legalize it. Twenty-seven states plus the District of Columbia have legalized medical cannabis, and four states have legalized recreational cannabis.

Public support for cannabis legalization continues to reach new heights, but opinions remain divided along age and political lines, according to the latest studies from the Pew Research Center.

57% Americans are now in favor of legalization according to the latest poll Conducted among 1,201 American adults. 37% are opposed, and 5% are undecided.

Public opinion has thus shifted toward legalization over the long term, with a rapid increase in recent years. 36% were in favor 10 years ago, and 53% 18 months ago. In 1969, that figure was only 12%.

Most of the current support comes from the younger generations. 71% of Millennials (ages 18–35) favor legalization, whereas only 34% of this same age group did so 10 years ago.

More than half of Generation X (ages 36–51) and Baby Boomers (ages 52–70) support legalization, with 57 and 56%, respectively. Older adults (ages 71–88) are more widely opposed to legalization, with 67% against it.

When it comes to examining opinions along political lines, the Pew study reveals a divide:

Two-thirds of Democrats support legalization, while 55% of Republicans oppose the legalization of cannabis, and 41% are in favor.

The Republicans are divided internally. Among liberal and moderate Republicans, 63% are in favor of the bill, while among conservative Republicans, 62% are against it and 33% are in favor.

The differences within the Democratic Party are more modest. Liberal Democrats are more likely to support conservatives and moderates (78% versus 55%).

Perhaps a question to include in the next IPSOS survey regarding the legalization of cannabis in France.