ECU poll: Generational divide proves to be a major factor in marijuana legalization debate

Most Americans support legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes

Published Dec 18, 2019 by
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The East Carolina University Center for Survey Research has released its latest report on American’s opinion on the legalization of marijuana.

Of those polled:

  • 62% of adults in the United States support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes
  • 61% of adults in the United States believe marijuana does not lead to the use of other illegal drugs
  • 76% of those born before 1946, the silent and greatest generations, oppose the legalization of marijuana
  • 76% of millennial and post-millennial generations support the legalization of marijuana

The report suggests that the type and/or lack of exposure to anti-drug campaigns may have swayed the perception of marijuana use in society, leading to the wide range of opinions between the generations. Of those polled, 23% of people who are part of the silent and greatest generations supported the legalization of recreational marijuana, compared to 76% of millennials and later generations.

From the CSR report:

“Those from the Silent and Greatest generations were exposed to movies such as “Reefer Madness” (1936) which suggested that marijuana would lead to complete madness and loss of self-control. Millennials and later generations were born after or are too young to remember President Ronald Reagan’s Just Say No campaign against drug use in the 1980s.”

The report authors also mention Reagan-era anti-drug messaging as making the term, “gateway drug” mainstream. The term suggested the use of marijuana would lead to the use of additional drugs viewed as more addictive, like heroin and cocaine.

Overall, 39% of those polled believe marijuana is a gateway drug. Of those who oppose the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, 81% believe it is a gateway drug.

Other findings listed in the report include:

  • There is no significant difference between states that voted Democrat and those that voted Republican when it comes to support for legalizing recreational marijuana use.
  • Regional differences exist. A larger percentage of those who live in metro areas favor legalization (65%) than those living in non-metro areas support (52%).
  • A majority of liberal Democrats (91%), moderate Democrats (71%), Independents (70%), and moderate Republicans (55%) support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. Conservative Republicans (76%) oppose legalization of marijuana by a 3-to-1 margin.

The results are based on data collected via mail, using randomized address-based sampling and online from 1,065 American adults who live in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The surveys were distributed and collected between May 20 and June 28. The credibility interval, much like a margin of error, is +/- 3.4%.

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ECU News Services
Howard House, 1001 E. Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
ecunews@ecu.edu
Phone: 252-328-6481
news.ecu.edu

Contact: Peter Francia, director of the ECU Center for Survey Research, political science professor

Phone/email: 919-624-3394, FranciaP@ecu.edu

Note: Francia is available for in-person interviews in the Raleigh area or phone interviews.

Download full report: CSR Marijuana Report FINAL (12.17.19)