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Americans’ support for legal marijuana use has reached 60 percent, a record high in Gallup’s 47-year trend.
Gallup first asked the question whether "the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not" in 1969. Then, only 12 percent of Americans said, "Yes."
Support started to climb in 2000 at 31 percent and reached a majority of 58 percent for the first time in 2013 after Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational use.
"Since then, a majority of Americans have continued to say they think the use of marijuana should be made legal," writes Gallup. “Today's 60% is statistically similar to the previous high of 58% reached in 2013 and 2015, so it is unclear whether support has stabilized or is continuing to inch higher."
Support among adults ages 18-34 is highest at 77 percent, with a national average of 60 percent.
Independents and Democrats strongly support the legalization of marijuana, weighing in at 70 percent and 67 percent respectively.
While still a minority, Republicans’ support has more than doubled over the last decade from 20 percent in 2005 to 42 percent in 2016.
Marijuana use is currently legal in four states – Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington – as well as Washington, D.C.
Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada will be voting in November on whether to legalize marijuana use.