Americans View Cannabis As Less Harmful Than Tobacco Or Alcohol, Divided Over Impact On Society, Gallup Finds

A Gallup poll published Tuesday reveals that American views on the impact of cannabis have taken a conservative shift, with more adults now considering it harmful compared to two years ago. 

The Haze After The Hype

The survey, conducted between during July with a random sample of 1,010 adults aged 18 and older, shows that 54% of respondents believe marijuana negatively affects society, while 51% view its impact on users as detrimental. This marks a notable change from 2022, when public opinion was nearly split on the issue.

The poll findings suggest a growing concern among Americans about the societal and personal effects of cannabis, despite its increasing legal acceptance and the ongoing process of reclassifying it to a less-dangerous substance category.

Read Also: Harris And Walz Push Pro-Cannabis Agenda In New Democratic Platform For 2024

Cannabis Less Harmful Than Tobacco Or Alcohol

Interestingly, while perceptions have become more conservative, cannabis is still seen as less harmful than other substances. Only 26% of respondents consider marijuana “very harmful,” a stark contrast to the 79% who say the same about cigarettes. Despite this, the proportion of Americans who view marijuana as harmful has increased since 2022, when only 23% labeled it “very harmful.”

Decline In Positive Cannabis Views Amid Slight Drop In Use

Demographic divisions are evident in the poll. Young adults aged 18-34, Democrats and infrequent churchgoers are more likely to view marijuana positively. Nonetheless, even among these groups, positive perceptions have declined since 2022. For instance, only 58% of young adults now believe cannabis positively affects users, down from 65% in 2022.

The poll also notes a slight decrease in usage. Thirteen percent of U.S. adults report smoking cannabis, down from 16-17% in the past two years. In contrast, alcohol remains widely consumed, with 58% of adults reporting occasional use.

Legalization Support High Despite Impact Concerns

As perceptions of cannabis continue to evolve, the contradiction between growing support for legalization and concerns about its impact paint a complex landscape. With 90% of Americans backing some form of legal cannabis according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January among 5,140 adults, the dialogue seems to be shifting from whether it should be legal to how it should be regulated.

Read Next:

• Gov. Pritzker Greets Democratic National Convention Delegates, Visitors With Billboard: ‘Illinois Democrats Legalized Marijuana’

Featured image generated with AI tools.

Get Benzinga's exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here. If you're serious about the business, you can't afford to miss out.