American's views on marijuana have shifted drastically over the past two years, with a slight majority viewing the drug as harmful to society, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday.
The poll of 1,010 U.S. adults was taken between July 1 and July 21. It found that 54% of Americans said the substance is negatively affecting society, with 20% saying it very negatively affects and 34% saying it somewhat negatively affects. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.
By contrast, 41% of respondents said that marijuana either greatly or somewhat positively affects society. The 13-point difference shows a growing number of citizens no longer view marijuana as a harmless way to achieve a high. In 2022, Americans were more evenly divided on the issue, with 50% viewing the drug negatively and 49% viewing it favorably.
When asked how marijuana affects its users, 51% said the drug has a negative impact and 43% said the effects were positive.
With the recreational use of marijuana now legal in 24 states, more Americans have witnessed the effects the drug can have on society. In July, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy warned that many states are "far ahead on legalizing it, but very behind when it comes to traffic safety." A study released in 2023 found that marijuana-related traffic accidents that required treatment in an emergency room rose 475% between 2010 and 2021.
Although American's have an increasingly negative view of cannabis, it is still viewed as a less harmful substance than tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol. When asked their opinion of eight different substances, 97% viewed cigarettes as either very or somewhat harmful to claim the top spot, with 66% saying the same about marijuana.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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