Three In Four Americans Support Marijuana Legalization, Expungements And Banking Reform, New Poll Finds

About three in four American voters—including bipartisan majorities—support ending federal marijuana prohibition, expunging prior convictions and allowing banks to work with state-legal cannabis businesses, according to a new poll.

The survey from Data for Progress that was released on Monday builds on recent polling that similarly shows that Americans are ready for fundamental cannabis policy changes.

It found that 74 percent of likely voters back federally legalizing marijuana, including 65 percent of Republicans, 76 percent of independents and 81 percent of Democrats.

Via Data for Progress.

Support for expunging the records of people with non-violent cannabis convictions was similarly strong, at 74 percent. That also included majorities across the political spectrum: 63 percent of Republicans, 74 percent of independents and 85 percent of Democrats.

Via Data for Progress.

Data for Progress also asked respondents about cannabis banking reform, listing several key provisions of the House-passed Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act.

Again, there was majority support for each component, including giving the marijuana industry access to the traditional banking system (72 percent), ensuring non-discrimination in financial services for those businesses (77 percent) and protecting home loan eligibility for marijuana industry workers (73 percent).

Via Data for Progress.

Respondents also strongly support removing cannabis-related collateral consequences such as denial of federal public benefits and federally assisted housing.

The survey involved interviews with 1,282 likely voters from November 9-15, with a +/-3 percentage point margin of error.

While Americans have made clear in multiple polls that they back wide-ranging cannabis reform, including legalization, this latest survey also provides timely data on two key proposals that are expected to be included in a forthcoming congressional bill.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is expected to soon file the so-called SAFE Plus bill—centered around banking and expungements provisions—and work to advance it during the lame duck session.

The majority leader said late last month that Congress is getting “very close” to introducing and passing the cannabis omnibus legislation, citing progress he’s made in discussions with a “bunch of Republican senators.”

Meanwhile, a Gallup poll released earlier this month also found that seven in 10 Americans say that marijuana should be legalized—including majorities of all political parties and age demographics.

Another recent survey, from the Pew Research Center, showed that just one in ten Americans say that cannabis should remain completely illegal.

A poll released last month also shows that a majority of Americans are in favor of President Joe Biden’s decision to grant pardons to people who’ve committed federal marijuana possession offenses, and most also want to see their own governors follow suit with state-level cannabis relief.

Young people are now more than twice as likely to report smoking marijuana compared to cigarettes, according to a new analysis of survey data from Gallup.

In August, Gallup released data showing that more than twice as many Americans think that cannabis has a positive impact on its consumers and society at large than say the same about alcohol.

That’s generally consistent with the results of a separate poll released in March that found more Americans think it’d be good if people switched to cannabis and drank less alcohol compared to those who think the substance substitution would be bad.

Interestingly, a 2020 Gallup survey separately showed that 86 percent of Americans view alcohol use as morally acceptable, compared to 70 percent who said the same about marijuana consumption.

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.