Illegal Drugs

Line graph. Americans' views on whether marijuana should be legal. Oct 2019: 66% say yes.

Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?

	Yes, legal	No, not legal	No opinion
	%	%	%
2019 Oct 1-13	66	33	1
2019 May 15-30	64	34	2
2018 Oct 1-10	66	32	2
2017 Oct 5-11	64	34	2
2016 Oct 5-9	60	39	1
2015 Oct 7-11	58	40	2
2014 Oct 12-15	51	47	2
2013 Oct 3-6	58	39	3
2012 Nov 26-29	48	50	1
2011 Oct 6-9	50	46	3
2010 Oct 7-10 ^	46	50	4
2009 Oct 1-4 ^	44	54	2
2005 Oct 13-16 ^	36	60	4
2003 Nov 10-12 ^	34	64	2
2001 Aug 3-5	34	62	4
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 ^	31	64	5
1995 Aug 28-30	25	73	2
1985 May 17-20	23	73	4
1980 Jun 27-30	25	70	5
1979 May 18-21	25	70	5
1977 Apr 1-4	28	66	6
1973 Jan 26-29	16	78	6
1972 Mar 3-5	15	81	4
1969 Oct 2-7	12	84	4
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Overall, how would you describe the problem of drugs [ROTATED: in the United States/in the area where you live] -- is it extremely serious, very serious, moderately serious, not too serious or not serious at all?

	Extremely serious	Very serious	Moderately serious	Not too serious	Not serious at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
In the United States
2019 Oct 1-13	37	36	22	4	1	*
2018 Oct 1-10	37	32	22	5	2	2
2017 Oct 5-11	33	38	23	4	1	*
2016 Oct 5-9	32	33	27	6	2	2
2011 Oct 6-9	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
2009 Oct 1-4	35	33	26	5	1	1
2007 Oct 4-7	35	38	24	1	1	1
2005 Oct 13-16	37	33	23	5	1	1
2003 Oct 6-8	31	40	24	3	1	1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	43	40	15	1	1	*
In the area where you live
2019 Oct 1-13	16	17	37	22	8	*
2018 Oct 1-10	14	17	37	22	10	1
2017 Oct 5-11	13	16	36	20	12	2
2016 Oct 5-9	13	19	35	20	11	1
2011 Oct 6-9	11	18	36	25	10	1
2009 Oct 1-4	14	16	38	23	8	1
2007 Oct 4-7	14	15	39	21	10	2
2005 Oct 13-16	14	19	35	23	8	1
2003 Oct 6-8	13	17	36	22	11	1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	13	21	39	19	6	2
* Less than 0.5%; n/a: Not asked
Gallup

Now, how much progress do you feel the nation has made over the last year or two in coping with the problem of illegal drugs -- has it made much progress, made some progress, stood still, lost some ground or lost much ground?

	Made much progress	Made some progress	Stood still	Lost some ground	Lost much ground	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2019 Oct	4	37	27	18	12	2
2018 Oct	5	33	26	19	14	3
2017 Oct	2	30	28	23	14	2
2011 Oct	3	28	31	21	14	3
2009 Oct	3	30	31	19	13	3
2007 Oct	3	31	31	19	13	3
2005 Oct	2	31	30	23	13	1
2003 Oct	3	35	32	17	11	2
2000 Sep	6	41	23	17	12	1
1999 Sep	4	42	27	14	12	1
1996 Nov	3	28	22	24	22	1
1995 Sep	2	36	30	19	11	2
1976 Jun	2	25	29	25	15	4
1974 Apr	4	36	21	19	16	5
1972 May	3	32	20	21	20	5
Gallup

Keeping in mind that all of your answers in this survey are confidential, have you, yourself ever happened to try marijuana?

	Yes, have tried	No, have not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2019 Jul 1-12 ^	45	55	1
2017 Jul 5-9 ^	45	55	*
2016 Jul 13-17 ^	43	57	1
2015 Jul 8-12 ^	44	55	1
2013 Jul 10-14 ^	38	61	1
1999 Sep 23-26	34	66	*
1985 May 17-20 #	33	67	*
1977 Mar 29 #	24	76	1
1973 Mar 23 #	12	88	1
1972 Feb 29 #	11	88	1
1969 Oct 2-7 #	4	88	8
^ Asked of a half sample; * Less than 0.5%; # WORDING: Have you, yourself, ever happened to try marijuana?
Gallup

Keeping in mind that all of your answers in this survey are confidential, do you, yourself smoke marijuana?

	Yes, do	No, do not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2019 Jul 1-12 ^	12	88	*
2017 Jul 5-9 ^	12	88	1
2016 Jul 13-17 ^	13	87	--
2015 Jul 8-12 ^	11	88	*
2013 Jul 10-14 ^	7	93	*
^ Asked of a half sample; * Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Has drug abuse ever been a cause of trouble in your family?

	Yes	No	No opinion
	%	%	%
2019 Jul 1-12	27	73	*
2018 Jul 1-11	30	70	*
2005 Oct 13-16	22	78	*
2003 Oct 6-8	24	76	*
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	22	78	*
1999 Sep 23-26	17	83	*
1995 Sep 14-17	19	81	*
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Please say whether each of the following is a very important reason why you favor legalizing marijuana, a somewhat important reason, or not an important reason. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Asked of those who think marijuana should be legal

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
Marijuana helps people who use it for medical reasons	86	12	2	--
It would free up law enforcement to focus on other types of crime	70	23	7	--
It is a matter of freedom and personal choice	60	29	11	*
It will provide a good source of tax revenue for state and local governments	56	30	13	*
Government regulation of marijuana would make it safer for those who use it	47	36	16	*
You do not believe marijuana is harmful to people who use it	35	43	19	3
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup, May 15-30, 2019

Please say whether each of the following is a very important reason why you oppose legalizing marijuana, a somewhat important reason, or not an important reason. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Asked of those who think marijuana should not be legal

	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
It would increase the number of car accidents involving drivers who use marijuana	79	12	8	*
It would lead to more people using stronger and more addictive drugs	69	18	13	*
It would encourage more people to use marijuana	62	21	17	*
Legalizing marijuana would not benefit society or individuals much	60	21	18	*
You believe marijuana is harmful to people who use it	54	22	24	*
You believe the use of drugs, including marijuana, is immoral	43	25	31	1
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup, May 15-30, 2019

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about smoking marijuana?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	Not a moral issue (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2019 May 1-12	65	33	1	1	*
2018 May 1-10 ^	65	31	3	--	2
(vol.)=volunteered response; ^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read a list of problems facing the country. For each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little or not at all? How much do you personally worry about drug use?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2019 Mar 1-10	47	26	16	11	1
2018 Mar 1-8	45	25	16	13	1
2017 Mar 1-5	44	22	21	13	*
2016 Mar 2-6	44	23	18	15	*
2015 Mar 5-8	38	24	21	17	*
2014 Mar 6-9 ^	34	29	25	12	*
2013 Mar 7-10	36	24	23	17	*
2012 Mar 8-11	42	24	21	13	*
2011 Mar 3-6	40	24	21	14	1
2010 Mar 4-7	37	27	22	13	1
2008 Mar 6-9	43	24	24	9	*
2007 Mar 11-14	45	26	20	8	*
2006 Mar 13-16	48	25	18	9	*
2005 Mar 7-10	42	23	24	11	*
2004 Mar 8-11	46	19	20	14	1
2003 Mar 24-25	42	26	20	12	*
2002 Mar 4-7	49	22	19	9	1
2001 Mar 5-7	58	22	13	7	*
^ Asked of a half sample; * Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Next, please say how often you currently smoke or use each of the following -- regularly, occasionally or never. How about -- Marijuana?

	Regularly	Occasionally	Never	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2018 Jul 1-11	5	8	87	*
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

In general, how harmful do you feel each of the following is to people who use them-very harmful, somewhat harmful, not too harmful or not at all harmful? How about -- Marijuana?

	Very harmful	Somewhat harmful	Not too harmful	Not at all harmful	Depends (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2018 Jul 1-11	27	29	24	18	1	1
(vol) = volunteered response.
Gallup

For each of the following drugs, please say how much of a problem you think it is in your area -- is it a crisis, a very serious problem but not a crisis, a somewhat serious problem or not much of a problem?

	Crisis	Very serious problem	Somewhat serious problem	Not much of a problem	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
Heroin	17	25	22	29	7
Prescription painkillers	14	30	28	24	5
Cigarettes	10	23	33	33	2
Alcohol	8	24	35	32	1
Cocaine	8	20	29	37	7
Marijuana	6	17	25	50	2
June 14-23, 2016
Gallup

How much have you heard or read about problems with a type of prescription painkiller known as opioids -- a lot, some, only a little, or nothing at all?

	A lot	Some	Only a little	Nothing at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2016 Jun 14-23	46	19	15	18	1
Gallup

How much do you blame each of the following for the opioid problem -- a lot, some, only a little or not at all?

	A lot	Some	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
The pharmaceutical industry encouraging doctors to use opioids	55	22	13	7	4
Doctors overprescribing painkillers to their patients	53	27	14	5	2
Lack of public knowledge about the dangers of opioids	49	28	14	8	1
Patients demanding that they be given a prescription to ease their pain	47	29	16	5	3
Jun 14-23, 2016
Gallup

As you may know, marijuana use is legal in some states. Do you think the federal government should take steps to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws in those states, or not?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2012 Nov 26-29	34	64	1
Gallup

Would you favor or oppose making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2010 Oct 7-10	70	27	3
2005 Oct 13-16	78	22	*
2003 Nov 10-12	75	22	3
1999 Mar 19-21	73	25	2
* Less than 0.5%; ^ WORDING: Would you vote for or against making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering?
Gallup

Some people have proposed legalizing marijuana and then taxing its sale as a way of raising revenue for state governments. Would you favor or oppose this in the state where you live?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Oct 1-4 ^	42	56	2
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Do you think the possession of small amounts of marijuana should or should not be treated as a criminal offense?

	Yes, should be	No, should not be	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Oct 13-16 ^	43	55	2
2003 Nov 10-12 ^	52	46	1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 ^	51	47	2
1985 May 17-20	50	46	4
1980 Jun 27-30	43	52	5
1977 Apr 1-4	41	53	6
^Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Illegal Drugs

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