CBS NEWS POLL For release: Thursday, January 23, 2014 7:00 am EST

For the First Time, Most Americans Think Marijuana Use Should be Legal January 17-21, 2013 51% of Americans now think marijuana use should be made legal, the first time a majority has supported that in the CBS News Poll. Support for legalized marijuana use has risen among nearly all demographic groups since April 2013, but Republicans and conservatives remain opposed. 86% think doctors should be allowed to prescribe marijuana for serious medical illnesses, though 56% of Americans do not think most of the medical marijuana purchased through state programs is being used for that reason. 62% of Americans think the laws regarding marijuana use should be decided at the state level. 54% of those who oppose making marijuana use legal agree. For the first time since the CBS News Poll began asking the question, a slight majority of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana use. 51% say they think the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 44% do not. Public opinion on this issue has changed dramatically over the past few years: in October 2011 a slight majority opposed making marijuana use legal, and as recently as April 2013 public opinion was divided on this issue. Should Marijuana Use be Legal? 4/2013 11/2012 10/2011 45% 47% 40% 45 47 51

Yes No

Now 51% 44

7/2009 41% 52

7/1979 27% 69

Making Marijuana Legal: The Demographics Views that marijuana use should be made legal have risen across nearly every demographic group since April 2013: Support for legalizing marijuana use has grown among Americans under 44, and now most Americans 45 to 64 think marijuana should be legal (in April this age group was divided.). The only age group that still opposes legalizing marijuana use is seniors 65 and older. Support has increased among both men and women, but there remains a gender gap. Most men (57%) think marijuana use should be made legal, while fewer women (46%) think so. Most Democrats (59%), independents (54%), liberals (72%), and moderates (54%), support legalizing marijuana use.

However, most Republicans (61%) and conservatives (61%) oppose legalizing marijuana, though support has risen among these groups as well. Support for legalizing marijuana use has risen six points among Americans earning under $100K a year, and 12 points among those earning $100K or more. Should Marijuana Use be Legal? ** Now ** ** 4/2013 ** Yes No Yes No 51% 44 45% 45 61% 53% 55% 32% 57% 46% 33 43 41 61 38 50 55% 48% 45% 26% 49% 41% 37 35 48 62 40 49

Total 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Men Women Income Under $100K $100K+ Republicans Democrats Independents Liberals Moderates Conservatives Medical Marijuana

50% 64% 35% 59% 54% 72% 54% 36%

46 35 61 36 40 26 40 61

44% 52% 29% 53% 48% 63% 52% 25%

45 42 65 34 41 25 41 64

Americans support the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in overwhelming numbers. 86% think doctors should be allowed to prescribe small amounts of marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses. Americans have supported medical marijuana use since 1997 when CBS News began asking the question. Should Doctors be Allowed to Prescribe Marijuana for Medical Use? Now 11/2012 10/2011 2/1997 Allowed 86% 83% 77% 62% Not allowed 12 13 17 33 Still, a majority of Americans show some skepticism about the medical marijuana programs that exist today. Just a third of Americans think most of the marijuana that is being purchased in this country through state authorized programs is being used to alleviate suffering from serious medical illnesses. Most 56% - think it is being used for other reasons.

Most Marijuana Prescribed by Doctors is Now 11/2012 For serious medical illness 34% 29% For other reasons 56 53

10/2011 31% 52

Nevertheless, 77% of Americans who think most of the medical marijuana purchased is being used for other purposes still think doctors should be allowed to prescribe medical marijuana. Who Should Decide: The Federal Government or the States? Marijuana use remains illegal under federal law, though a majority of Americans dont think this is a matter that should involve the federal government. 62% say legalizing marijuana should be left up to each state government to decide. Who Should Determine Whether Marijuana is Legal? Now 11/2012 9/2012 State governments 62% 59% 62% Federal governments 35 34 32 _______________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone January 17-21, 2014 among 1,018 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by Social Science Research Solutions of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish . This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS POLL Marijuana January 17-21, 2014 Q49. Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 51 35 59 54 44 61 36 40 5 3 5 6

Legal Not legal Dont know/No answer

Apr13a % 45 45 11

Q50. Do you think doctors should be allowed to prescribe small amounts of marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses, or not? Nov12b 83 13 4

Allowed Not allowed Dont know/No answer

86 12 2

80 17 3

90 9 1

86 12 1

Q51. Do you think most of the marijuana that is being purchased in this country through state authorized medical marijuana programs is being used to alleviate suffering from serious medical illnesses, or do you think most of it is being used for other reasons? For serious medical illness For other reasons Dont know/No answer 34 56 10 29 67 4 39 51 10 33 53 14 29 53 18

Q52. Do you think laws regarding whether the use of marijuana is legal or not should be (determined by the federal government), or (left to each individual state government to decide)? Apr13a 33 54 4 9

Federal government State governments Both (vol.) Dont know/No answer

35 62 1 2 UNWEIGHTED 1,018 255 336 427

26 72 2 *

40 56 1 4

36 61 1 3

WEIGHTED

Total Respondents Total Republicans Total Democrats Total independents

248 335 435