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Americans broadly favor legalizing marijuana for recreational or medical purposes, with support across party lines, according to a new poll.
The YouGov survey from published on Monday found that 59 percent of U.S. adults want to legalize cannabis—including 75 percent of Democrats, 50 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of independents.
When asked specifically about whether marijuana should be made legal for certain purposes, 55 percent said they back recreational use and 84 percent said they want to legalize medical cannabis.
Democrats showed the strongest support for legalization across the board, with 70 percent in favor of allowing recreational use and 91 percent wanting to allow medical applications.
While 81 percent of Republicans are on board with medical marijuana legalization, support for recreational use drops to 46 percent.
% who support the U.S. legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational | medical purposes
U.S. adult citizens: 55% | 84%
Democrats: 70% | 91%
Independents: 52% | 81%
Republicans: 46% | 81%
18-29: 57% | 80%
30-44: 52% | 77%
45-64: 58% | 87%
65+: 54% | 89%https://t.co/6H8ijEWR6b pic.twitter.com/qWnVBJK1EW
— YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) April 20, 2026
The survey also asked about respondents’ own consumption of cannabis, finding that 13 percent currently use marijuana recreationally and another 28 percent say they’ve done so in the past.
Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to say they currently consume recreational marijuana, but admission of past use is roughly equal across party lines.
Separately, 65 percent of Americans say they know someone who uses or has used cannabis recreationally
% who know someone | don't know anyone who has used marijuana recreationally
U.S. adult citizens 65% | 21%
Democrats: 69% | 21%
Independents: 62% | 19%
Republicans: 65% | 22%
18-29: 42% | 36%
30-44: 61% | 26%
45-64: 76% | 12%
65+: 76% | 13%https://t.co/6H8ijEWR6b pic.twitter.com/fJ2k9xFofZ
— YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) April 20, 2026
Twenty percent of respondents said they currently or have in the past used marijuana for medical purposes, and 45 percent know someone who has.
The poll also found that “experience with marijuana—either in the form of personal use or knowing someone who has used marijuana—is associated with increased support for marijuana legalization,” YouGov wrote in an analysis of the results.
“Why is experience with marijuana associated with support for legalization? One possible explanation is that Americans who have personal experience with marijuana are more likely to say that it makes life better for people who use it,” the firm said.
“About one-quarter (27%) of Americans say that recreational marijuana generally makes life somewhat or much better for people who use it, while 31% say it makes users’ lives worse. But half (49%) of Americans who say they have used recreational marijuana say it makes people’s lives better, compared to only 13% who say it makes life worse. And while most Americans (69%) say medical marijuana makes users’ lives better, almost all Americans who have used it (94%) say this.”
“That suggests that most people who say they have used marijuana have had positive experiences, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that if everyone tried marijuana, they would view it more favorably,” YouGov said. “It’s possible that beliefs about marijuana determine who uses it, rather than experiences with marijuana shaping beliefs. In other words, people who believe marijuana has positive effects may be more willing to try it than those who have concerns about negative effects.”
The poll is based on interviews of 1,105 U.S. adult citizens from April 14-16 and has 4 percentage point margin of error.
Separately, a Gallup poll published late last year found that 64 percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana.
Another recent survey showed that three out of five Americans say it should be legal for people to grow their own marijuana plants at home.
Tom Angell is the editor of Marijuana Moment. A 25-year veteran in the cannabis and drug law reform movement, he covers the policy, politics, science and culture of marijuana, psychedelics and other substances. He previously reported for Forbes, Marijuana.com and MassRoots, and was given the Hunter S. Thompson Media Award by NORML and has been named Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe Access. As an activist, Tom founded the nonprofit Marijuana Majority and handled media relations, campaigns and lobbying for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
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