In a new Fox News poll, nearly seven in 10 voters, including a majority of Republicans, expressed support for the legalization of marijuana. This survey, released shortly after President Joe Biden’s announcement about rescheduling cannabis, shows 69 percent of registered U.S. voters favor ending marijuana prohibition, with 45 percent “strongly” supporting the reform.
The poll highlights bipartisan support for legalization. While 81 percent of Democrats back the policy change, 55 percent of Republicans and 65 percent of independents are also in favor. Majority support spans across all ages, races, income levels, education levels, and geographic regions. The only group predominantly opposed is those identifying as “very conservative.” Interestingly, even demographics such as those aged 65 and older and white evangelicals show majority support.
Fox News also found that 59 percent of voters likely to support former President Donald Trump favor legalization, compared to 80 percent of likely Biden voters. These findings align with a Gallup poll from last year, which recorded 70 percent support among Americans for marijuana legalization.
The Fox News survey, conducted from May 10-13 with 1,126 registered voters, has a margin of error of +/- three percentage points.
Don Murphy, a cannabis lobbyist and former GOP Maryland legislator, shared the poll results and advised Republican lawmakers to avoid criticizing Biden’s rescheduling move due to the high public support for legalization. “Of course this is political, but that doesn’t make it wrong,” he stated.
The Biden campaign has been quick to highlight the rescheduling action, emphasizing the contrast with Trump’s administration, which had rescinded federal cannabis enforcement guidance that supported state cannabis laws. Despite this, Biden remains opposed to full legalization.
Trump will face a marijuana legalization ballot initiative as a Florida voter this November. While he has expressed support for states’ rights to set their own cannabis laws, he has also endorsed aggressive anti-drug policies, including the death penalty for drug dealers.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department announced that Attorney General Merrick Garland has begun the formal rulemaking process for rescheduling cannabis, with a 60-day public comment period now open. This move is being praised as a historic step, recognizing for the first time in over 50 years that cannabis has accepted medical value and lower abuse potential compared to other Schedule I drugs like heroin.
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