WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans’ views of the effects of marijuana have worsened over the past two years, as slim majorities now say it negatively impacts both society as a whole (54%) and most people who use it (51%).
This contrasts with Gallup’s findings from 2022, when the public was about evenly divided in its assessments of marijuana’s effect on society and more likely to say the effect on most users was positive (53%) rather than negative (45%). The latest data , from Gallup’s July 1-21 Consumption Habits poll, show that majorities of Americans in several demographic groups believe marijuana has a positive effect on most who use it. These include those who say they have tried marijuana, young adults 18-34 years old, Democrats, and those who attend religious services less than monthly or never.
By contrast, majorities of their counterparts — those who say they have never tried marijuana, adults 55 and older, Republicans and those who attend religious services at least monthly — think marijuana has a negative effect on most who use it. Independents and adults 35 to 54 years old are divided in their views. All of the groups have become less likely since 2022 to say marijuana has a positive effect on users.
Meanwhile, less than half of Americans in each of these groups now think that marijuana positively impacts society. Americans Believe Marijuana Less Harmful Than Other Substances A separate question in the July survey measures U.S.
adults’ opinions of the ha.