HOLLYWEED ITS A MOVEMENT

Two-Thirds of American Voters Back Nationwide Cannabis Legalization as Trump Weighs Rescheduling

By Jennifer Owens

Support for cannabis legalization has reached new heights in the United States, with two-thirds of registered voters now saying marijuana should be legal nationwide, according to a new Emerson College poll.

The survey, conducted in late August, found that 65 percent of voters view nationwide legalization as a “good” idea, a five-point increase from the same poll last October. Only 35 percent still consider legalization a “bad” idea.

The results highlight how cannabis reform has become a mainstream issue across political and demographic lines. Democrats remain the strongest supporters at 79 percent, followed by independents at 66 percent and Republicans at 49 percent. While younger voters show overwhelming support—71 percent of those under 30 and 74 percent in their 40s—opposition remains higher among voters over 70, where opinions are evenly split.

This wave of public support comes as President Donald Trump considers a more modest proposal: rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Such a move would recognize cannabis’s medical use and allow businesses to take federal tax deductions currently barred under IRS code 280E. However, it would stop short of full federal legalization.

Political analysts suggest that taking action on cannabis could provide Trump with a significant boost. “If Trump was to make a decision and legalize it, boy, that could really turn things around on his favorability,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

Polling from other organizations reinforces this trend. The Pew Research Center recently found that nearly nine in ten Americans support legalization in some form, while a Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation survey showed seven in ten want to see federal prohibition end entirely. Many respondents also indicated they would view the Trump administration more favorably if it acted on reform.

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats are pushing further. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) has once again introduced a bill to deschedule cannabis entirely, marking the fourth straight session he has put the measure forward. The House has twice passed legalization bills under his leadership, but Senate action remains elusive.

Whether through descheduling or rescheduling, the political pressure on Washington is mounting. With nearly two-thirds of Americans in favor, the gap between public opinion and federal law on cannabis is wider than ever.