FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 8, 2018
Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org
National Pew Survey Finds Growing Majority of Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana (62%); Only One-Third Opposed (34%)
Statement below from Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Steve Hawkins
WASHINGTON — Survey results released Monday by the Pew Research Center show a growing majority of Americans support ending marijuana prohibition. The national survey of 1,754 U.S. adults found 62% think marijuana should be made legal, while only about one-third of Americans (34%) think it should remain illegal.
Statement from Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project:
“A growing majority of Americans are ready to end the failed policy of marijuana prohibition and move on. They see states regulating marijuana for medical and adult use, and they recognize it is a much more effective approach. Laws that treat cannabis consumers like criminals and disproportionately impact communities of color are steadily losing popularity across the U.S.
“Voters are steadily moving in one direction on this issue, and elected officials are taking notice. States are reevaluating their old prohibition laws and starting to plan their exit strategies. It is time for Congress to do the same and end prohibition at the federal level.”
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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.