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Sentiment among Americans about the harmful effects of cannabis has worsened over the past two years, with slight majorities saying marijuana negatively affects society and its users, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Citing its consumption In a survey of habits conducted from July 1 to 21, the pollster said that 54% of Americans believe that marijuana negatively impacts society, while 51% said that it affects those who consume it.
A 2022 Gallup poll indicated that 50% and 45% of Americans believed cannabis had a harmful effect on society and the majority of people who use it, respectively.
A separate question in the survey assessed American adults' opinions on the harmfulness of cannabis, alcohol and tobacco products. While most said all products were harmful to their users, the lowest percentage (66%) said marijuana caused similar harm.
Meanwhile, the percentage of American adults who admit to smoking marijuana has declined slightly from the 16% to 17% range to 13% in 2022, according to Gallup. The percentage of adults who consume edibles has remained stable at 12%, compared to 11% who admit to smoking cigarettes.
Gallups' findings coincide with an ongoing effort by the U.S. Department of Justice to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration scheduled a hearing to seek public input on the proposal.
