It’s no longer the “devil’s weed.”
A slim majority of Americans now favors the legalization of marijuana after decades of opposing cannabis as a public taboo, a new Quinnipiac University poll found.
The survey showed 51 percent support legalizing pot for recreational use, while 44 percent were opposed.
The result comes at a time when more and more states are approving pro-marijuana laws. Using marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in 20 states, and the voters in Washington and Colorado last month approved blanket legalization at the ballot box.
Meanwhile New York lawmakers are considering decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot during police stop-and-frisks as well as authorizing medical marijuana.
The findings clash with federal law that forbids marijuana use and sale and raise the question of whether President Obama should reconsider the policy.
“American voters seem to have a more favorable opinion about this once-dreaded drug,” said Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown.
But the survey found a sizable gender gap over the issue. Men backed weed legalization 59 to 36 percent, but women opposed it 52-44.
There was also a huge age gap. The youngest voters between 18 and 29 support legalization 67-27, while those over 65 were opposed 56-35.
Voters between the age of 30 to 44 like the idea 58-39, while voters between 45 and 64 were split, 48-47 in favor.In terms of political affiliation, the poll also showed that conservatives were holdouts. Only 31 percent of Republicans backed legalization, compared with 58 percent of both Democrats and registered independents.
“Given the better than 2-1 majority among younger voters, legalization is just a matter of time,” Brown said.