Americans' perceptions of the harmfulness of marijuana have worsened, Gallup poll finds

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FILE-An activist rolls a joint during a protest against the prohibition of using a minimum dose of marijuana for personal use. (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images)

The effects of marijuana use was the subject of a recent poll with Americans stating that it can be more harmful based on findings in a recent poll.

Slight majorities of people polled by Gallup now say that marijuana negatively impacts both society (54%) and most people who use it (51%).

Gallup noted in its report that this latest opinion on the effects of marijuana use differs from their data from 2022, when 53% of respondents said that the effect on most users was positive compared to 45% who believe it had negative effects.

According to the poll, Americans’ perceptions of the harmfulness of marijuana have worsened slightly since 2023, when 23% viewed it as very harmful and 35% consider it somewhat harmful.

Findings for this latest survey are from Gallup’s July Consumption Habits poll where people offered their opinions on the negative and positive effects of marijuana use.

Majorities of individuals in several demographic groups, including young adults 18-34 years, people who have tried marijuana, Democrats and people who attend religious services less than a month or never, think marijuana has a positive effect on those who use it.

But this opinion was different among groups like adults 55 and older, people who have never tried marijuana, Republicans and people who attend religious services at least monthly, who believe marijuana has a negative effect on those who use it.

Separately, the poll noted that independents and adults 35 to 54 years old are split in their opinions on the effects of marijuana.