Attitudes Toward Marijuana.(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)

In 1969, only 4 percent of Americans admitted to the Gallup Organization that they had ever tried marijuana. Today, slightly under 40 percent say they have. A third of college freshmen, down from 53 percent in 1977, say it should be legalized. Americans are divided about whether possession of small amounts of marijuana should be treated as a criminal offense; they strongly support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes to treat patients.

Since 1969, they University of California at Los Angeles has been asking a sample of freshmen at universities and colleges around the country whether marijuana should be legalized. In 1969, 19 percent said it should be. Fifty-three percent, the highest proportion in this time series, gave that response in 1977. in 1999, 34 percent said it should be legalized.

 
Question: Keeping in mind that all of your answers 
in this survey are confidential ...? 
 
       Have tried   Have 
       marijuana    not 
 
1969       4%       94% 
 
1972      11        89 
 
1973      12        88 
 
1977      24        76 
 
1985      33        67 
 
1999      34        66 
 
2001      38        60 
 
Source: For 1969-2000, the 
Gallup Organizations, for 
2001, the Pew Research 
Center for the People & the 
Press, February 2001. 
Question: by the way, and this is totally 
confidential, have you ...? 
 
By age (years) 
 
Personally ever tried   33% 
 marijuana, even once 
 
                18-25   55% 
 
                26-34   40 
 
                35-50   53 
 
          ...