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Majority of Americans are Pro-Marijuana Legalization, Poll Says

This may seem obvious if you live on a college campus, but most people in the U.S. think pot should be legal.


A poll released by Gallup this past Wednesday reveals that almost 60% of Americans are in support of the legalization of marijuana. According to the poll, support is highest among millennials: 71% young adults born between 1981 and 1997 are pro-pot use. But does that mean that collegiettes are interested in this legalization? This is where the poll falls short, as it lacks the sufficient information regarding this demographic. Who are the people who are pro-pot, and are they collegiettes like you?

According to USA Today, the methods by which people use marijuana vary among age groups. For instance, in order to achieve a more powerful high, young adults concentrate marijuana into the form of wax or oil, and according to health experts, these concentrated products can lead to extreme cases of psychosis, including paranoia and hallucinations. But pro-legalization advocates say that most people use marijuana responsibly.


The results of the poll are a strong indication that a majority of Americans will vote pro-pot in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Washington Post.

“These days it’s not especially exciting to see yet another poll showing majority support for legalizing marijuana, but 58 percent is very strong share of the American people calling for change, and elected officials should listen,” Tom Angell of the pro-legalization group Marijuana Majority told the Washington Post. “We’re seeing an increasing number of national politicians saying that it’s time to at least let states implement their own laws without federal interference. And we’re also seeing a growing number candidates endorsing legalization outright, which shows how mainstream this issue is now.”

What do you think about marijuana legalization, and how will it affect you? Let us know!

Bailee Abell is a third-year English major at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she is the Editor-in-Chief of her college newspaper, The Bottom Line. She is an aspiring journalist, an avid drinker of agave lattes, and a lover of adventures (near or far). She can be found in local coffee shops and sunny places, editing articles or watching episodes of Gilmore Girls, rarely without a coffee in hand. Her blog is at BaileeAbell.blogspot.com.