Support for marijuana legalization has been on the rise for decades. A Pew Research survey found that 62% of Americans favored legalization last year — up from 31% in 2000 — and proposals for reform are even more popular among college students.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that a strong majority (85%) favor legalizing marijuana for recreational use nationwide, even though more than half (55%) of students say they never use marijuana in any form. Like the general public, students who identify as Democrats (91%) are far more likely than those who identify as Republicans (60%) to support legalization.
Students also overwhelmingly support pardoning people convicted of marijuana possession charges, which many Democratic presidential candidates have endorsed. Almost 9 in 10 (87%) students overall favor such a proposal, though Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to agree (93% vs. 63%).
A Majority of Democrats and Republicans Support Marijuana Legalization
Percent of students who favor…
Requiring that the majority of marijuana business licenses go to minorities and people with marijuana convictions — a plan proposed by former Rep. Beto O’Rourke in his campaign for president — has less support. More than half (56%) of students oppose such a plan, while 42% favor it. However, it’s significantly more popular among Democrats than Republicans (58% vs. 10%).
Along with political ideology, students’ views differ depending on their racial and ethnic backgrounds. While a majority of white students support legalization (86%) and pardoning past convictions (87%), only about one-third (35%) support giving most marijuana business licenses to those most affected by America’s war on drugs. Hispanic (59%), black (56%), and Asian (43%) students are more likely than their white classmates to support giving most business licenses to minorities. White students’ support more closely matches minority students’ when it comes to legalization (86% of black students, 83% of Hispanic students, and 77% of Asian students) and pardoning marijuana convictions (92% of black students, 90% of Hispanic students, and 82% of Asian students).
About One-Third of White Students Support Giving Most Marijuana Business Licenses to Minorities
Percent of students who favor…
Leading up to the 2020 election, students feel more strongly about pardoning marijuana convictions than legalizing weed. Less than half (46%) of students say they are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who strongly supports legalizing marijuana. Meanwhile, more than 6 in 10 (61%) students say they are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who strongly supports pardoning people convicted of marijuana possession. Students are more likely to say a candidate supporting legalization would not make any difference than to say a candidate supporting pardons would not make a difference (41% vs. 30%).
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
