marijuana: legalization, use and enforment
DESCRIPTION
Slideshow illustrating the changes attitudes of Americans toward the legalization of marijuana. From Pew Research Center.TRANSCRIPT
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MarijuanaChanging aitudes on legalization, use & enforcement
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Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal or illegal?
0
20
40
60
80
100%
1969 1980 1990 2000 2013
Legal
Illegal
52%
41
5263
8173
84
31
1624
12
45%
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Percent who support legalization, by political party
1990 2000 2010 2013
60% Independent59% Democrat
37% Republican
11
1817
26
29
35
24
48
49
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Boomers' attitudes over the past few decades epitomize the ebb and flow of public opinion on marijuana. About half of boomers supported legalization in their youth during the 1970's. This percentage fell to one-in-five during the Reagan administration's War on Drugs. Today, half of boomers again support legalization.
Percent of Boomers (born 1946-1964) who favor legalization
50%
41
36
30
24
17
28
38
4743%
1973 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
In 1978, Boomer adults were 18-32 years old.
1990Ages 26-44
2013Ages 49-67
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Percent favoring legalization, by generation
1969 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013
65% Millennialborn 1981-now
50% Boomerborn 1946-1964
32% Silentborn 1928-1945
14% Greatestborn before 1928
54% Gen Xborn 1965-1980
4347
38
21
41
34
58
15
7
Generational lines shown when significant sample is available.
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Of those who used marijuana in the past year...
of adults have tried marijuana.
used it for medical issues.30%
48%
have used it in the past year.
12%
47%
23%
used it just for fun.
used both medically and recreationally.
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INsee marijuana as a
gateway drug, compared to 6 in 10 in 1977.
say marijuana has some legitimate medical uses.
77%
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States with fully legal marijuana or medicinal use laws
IllegalLegal Medicinal Use Only
SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
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Do government efforts to enforce marijuana laws cost more than they are worth?
AGREE DISAGREE
TOTAL
Republicans
Democrats
Independents
72% 23%
26
24
18
67
71
78
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Percent saying marijuana is...
Morally wrong
2006 2013 2006 2013
Not a moral issue
50%
32%35
50