Three days before the Trump administration moved medical marijuana to Schedule III, a new YouGov poll found that 59% of Americans already supported legalizing marijuana use, and 84% supported legalizing it for medical purposes. The public has been ahead of federal policy for a long time. The data makes clear how far Washington still has to go.
The poll, conducted April 14-16 among 1,105 U.S. adult citizens, found majority support for marijuana legalization across party lines, age groups and levels of personal experience with the plant. It was released April 20 — three days before Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order rescheduling medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.
The numbers
Overall, 59% of Americans support legalizing marijuana use, compared to 28% who oppose it and 13% who are unsure. Support for medical marijuana specifically is overwhelming — 84% in favor, with only 9% opposed. Recreational legalization draws majority support at 55%, though with a wider political gap.
59%
support legalizing marijuana overall
84%
support legalizing medical marijuana
55%
support legalizing recreational marijuana
28%
oppose legalization overall
The partisan breakdown on overall legalization is notable: 75% of Democrats support it, but so do 54% of Independents and 50% of Republicans. On medical marijuana specifically, the numbers converge even further — 91% of Democrats, 81% of Independents and 81% of Republicans all support it. That is about as close to consensus as American politics gets.
Support for medical marijuana legalization by party
The age story nobody expected
The conventional assumption is that younger Americans drive marijuana support. The data says otherwise. Americans between 45 and 64 — roughly Gen X — show the highest overall support at 63%, outpacing adults under 30 (58%), those between 30 and 44 (55%) and adults 65 and older (57%).
YouGov’s analysis points to familiarity as the likely driver. Half of Americans in the 45-64 age group know a current recreational marijuana user — the highest of any age group — and 24% have personally used it for medical purposes, compared to 12% of adults under 30. Experience with the plant, whether personal or through someone close, correlates strongly with support for legalization.
Overall support for marijuana legalization by age group
Ages 45-64
63% — highest of any group
Experience drives opinion
The poll’s most striking finding may be the relationship between personal experience and policy views. Among Americans who have used marijuana recreationally, 83% support legalization and only 11% oppose it. Among those who have used it medically, support hits 90%. Even among Americans who haven’t used marijuana themselves but know someone who has, majority support holds.
The only group that tilts against legalization is the roughly 17% of Americans who say they have never used marijuana and don’t know anyone who has. Among that group, 46% oppose legalization and 32% support it.
90%
of medical marijuana users support legalization
83%
of recreational users support legalization
46%
of those with zero exposure oppose legalization
In other words: familiarity with the plant, direct or secondhand, consistently produces support. The remaining opposition is concentrated almost entirely among people with no exposure to it at all.
What the data means for Schedule III
The rescheduling of medical marijuana to Schedule III aligns with where public opinion on medical use has been for years. The 84% medical support figure — crossing party lines and age groups — suggests the move reflects a long-standing national consensus, not a policy leap.
But the gap between what Americans support and what federal law now permits remains significant. Fifty-five percent of Americans support legalizing recreational marijuana. Recreational cannabis remains Schedule I. Full legalization or descheduling would require an act of Congress — a fight that has not yet begun in any meaningful legislative form.
The public has been ready for full legalization for a while. What it got was Schedule III.
Rescheduling is movement. It is not freedom.
High Times, December 2025
Read our full rescheduling coverage: Cannabis Has Been Rescheduled to Schedule III. Don’t Call It Legalization. | Marijuana Reclassification Explained
