Americans support Biden’s moves to address cannabis issues, poll finds

Biden announced last week that his administration would examine whether to reclassify marijuana from its current position as a Schedule I drug, the same as heroin and LSD. The poll released Tuesday found that 69% of Americans were in support of that decision. 

The poll also found that two-thirds of Americans support Biden’s plan to pardon federal simple marijuana offenses with 40% strongly approving and 25% somewhat approving. 

Americans strongly support executive actions taken on Thursday by President Joe Biden to pardon people with federal marijuana possession offenses and potentially loosen federal restrictions on the drug, according to a new poll from POLITICO and Morning Consult.

Nearly two-thirds of voters indicated that they support issuing pardons to people with nonviolent federal marijuana convictions. That includes 40 percent who strongly support Biden’s actions, as well as 25 percent who are somewhat supportive. In contrast, fewer than one in four respondents expressed opposition to pardoning marijuana offenders.

A slightly higher share of respondents — 69 percent — expressed support for potentially changing the classification of marijuana under federal law. Fewer than one in five respondents indicated opposition to reevaluating marijuana’s federal status.  

Another poll from Politico/Morning Consult found broad support for marijuana legalization earlier this month.