Recent research indicates that for the first time in four decades, a majority of Americans thinks that marijuana should be legalized.
A national Pew Research Center poll released shows that 52 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana use and 45 percent polled said the weed should not be legalized. The remainder of 2.9 percent was left as a margin for error. A similar research poll was done in 2002 when 61 percent of Americans were against the use of marijuana while 32 percent wanted it to be legal.
Support for legalizing marijuana is up 11 points since 2002; however, a survey conducted in 1969 found that only 12 percent favored legalizing marijuana use.
The survey by the Pew Research Center was conducted between March 13 to 17 among 1,501 adults. The survey result shows that 65 percent of adults who participated in the poll who were born since 1980, favor legalizing the use of marijuana.
"Amid changing attitudes about marijuana, a sizable percentage of Americans (72%) say that government efforts to enforce marijuana laws cost more than they are worth. And 60% say that the federal government should not enforce federal laws prohibiting the use of marijuana in states where it is legal. Last fall, voters in two states - Colorado and Washington state - approved the personal use of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use," reports Pew Research Center.
According to a Los Angeles Times report, parenthood also appears to be a significant indicator in the use of marijuana. Parent respondents between the ages of 30 and 49 are less likely to support legalization than non-parents.
The research also says that about half of Americans (51 percent) would feel uncomfortable if people around them used marijuana while 48 percent would not. Around 35 percent of respondents younger than 30 years say they would be uncomfortable if people around them used marijuana, which is the lowest percentage of any age group. Around 74 percent of respondents over 65 years old say they would feel uncomfortable around marijuana use.
Moreover, more women than men say they would be troubled by people around them using marijuana.
It will be interesting to see if the research generates political interest and if the government takes any action to legalize appropriate use of marijuana.
