Gallup poll finds record support for legalizing marijuana

A new study by Gallup shows almost half of Americans -- a record number -- are in support of legalizing and taxing marijuana for recreational use by adults.

The poll shows that while a majority is in favor of repealing the drug's prohibition, actual approval is divided along political, and generational lines. A whopping 78 percent of liberals saying they would like to see the drug legalized while an almost equal amount of conservatives -- 72 percent -- say they are against it. Around 50 percent of Americans under the age of fifty believe that marijuana should be legalized, while just 28 percent of seniors agree. The most important statistic to anyone who wishes to put it to use, is the 51 percent of self-described moderates who now feel that marijuana should be legalized. This is a record high for that particular group, and the single most illustrative percentage showing that the country is moving towards a consensus on making marijuana legal. Also, more people in the American West (53 percent) favour pot legalization than the American South (40 percent). "The new findings come as the U.S. Justice Department has reportedly decided to loosen its enforcementof federal anti-marijuana laws by not pursuing individuals who buy or sell small amounts of the drug in conformity with their own states' medical marijuana laws," Gallup noted In 2003, three-quarters of Americans favored allowing doctors to legally prescribe marijuana to patients in order to reduce pain and suffering. Fully legalizing the drug could be the next logical step.