According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 53% of Americans support legalization. Though Democrat support for legalization comes as less of a surprise, the poll showed that 39% of Republicans support legalization, which marks the highest GOP support since the survey question's inception in 1969.
Additionally, the report showed 75% of Democrats who labeled themselves as liberal favored legalization while 48% of Republicans who identify themselves as "more moderate or left-leaning" support it. However, Republicans who see themselves as conservative still oppose legalization 2 to 1.
Further, people are more likely to switch from opposing legalization to supporting it, rather than vice versa, according to the poll. The study uses Colorado as an example. As the first state the legalize recreational marijuana, 62% surveyed now support the new policy on cannabis, an 8% increase from last year.
