Public Divided: Views on Marijuana's Impact in the United States
Do you think marijuana is good or bad for society? Well, Americans can't seem to agree. Half say it's good, while the other half says it's not. They're a bit more positive about how it affects the people who use it, with more than half saying it's a good thing.
People's own experiences with marijuana play a big role in how they see it. Most adults who have tried it think it's positive for both users and society. But those who haven't tried it tend to see it in a negative light.
Even though people aren't sure about marijuana's effects on society, most of them actually support its legalization. Nearly 70% of adults think it should be legal.
Interestingly, people view marijuana more favorably than alcohol. Most adults believe that alcohol has a negative impact on society and on people who drink it.
Trying Out Marijuana Holds Steady Around 50%
Around half of adults in the U.S. have tried marijuana at least once. This number has been going up over the years. However, not as many people currently smoke it as those who have tried it before. About 16% say they currently smoke it.
For the first time, the survey asked about marijuana edibles – things like brownies or gummies that have marijuana in them. Around 14% of people said they've given them a try.
Most people who use marijuana edibles also smoke marijuana, but not all of them do. Just over half of marijuana smokers say they use edibles. On the other hand, only 5% of those who don't smoke marijuana use edibles.
Young People Still Lead in Marijuana Use
As expected, young adults tend to use marijuana more. People aged 18 to 34 have the highest rates of both smoking marijuana and consuming edibles. Democrats and independents are more likely to use marijuana compared to Republicans.
Even though there's no clear agreement on whether marijuana benefits society, young people, Democrats, and independents tend to think positively about it:
- 62% of adults aged 18-34 and 53% of those 35-54 think marijuana is good for society, while only 37% of adults 55 and older agree.
- Most Democrats (60%) believe that marijuana has positive effects on society, while most Republicans (64%) disagree. Independents are divided with 49% on each side.
The Final Takeaway
In the eyes of the federal government, marijuana is considered a dangerous drug with a high potential for abuse. This conflicts with the views of many states that have legalized it for medical or even recreational use. This might be surprising for most Americans who think marijuana is helpful, especially those who have tried it themselves.
The future of marijuana legalization, both at the federal and state levels, might depend on what research says about its impact. Especially as its use keeps growing. However, with younger people being more familiar with marijuana, their acceptance of it might become more common over time.
For now, Americans are divided – some support it, while others don't.
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