The Marijuana Vote

The age breakdown in the latest US Gallup poll is the best argument for increasing youth voter turnout. Overall support for legalizing marijuana has just passed 50% in the US. But the age breakdown would likely have the median voter still in opposition.

Support for legalizing marijuana is directly and inversely proportional to age, ranging from 62% approval among those 18 to 29 down to 31% among those 65 and older. Liberals are twice as likely as conservatives to favor legalizing marijuana. And Democrats and independents are more likely to be in favor than are Republicans.

More men than women support legalizing the drug. Those in the West and Midwest are more likely to favor it than those in the South.

I wish there were current New Zealand polling data on this one.