Majority of Americans say marijuana should be made legal in U.S.

Nearly six in 10 Americans say marijuana use should be legal in the United States, tying the high point in 46 years of Gallup polling on the issue.

Fifty-eight percent said marijuana use should be made legal, according to a survey taken earlier this month and released Wednesday.

In 2005, 36 percent said marijuana should be legal. When Gallup started asking the question in 1969, 12 percent said it should be.

Younger people, Democrats, and independents are the most likely to favor legalization, while Republicans and older Americans are least likely.

Seventy-one percent of people ages 18-34 favor legalization — up from 20 percent in 1969. Even 35 percent of people ages 65 and older favor legalization today, compared to 4 percent in 1969.

The issue has split the 2016 GOP field, with some candidates saying states’ rights in places that have legalized marijuana for recreational use like Washington and Colorado should be respected. On the other hand, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, for example, has pledged to enforce federal law prohibiting the drug in such states if elected president.

Tom Angell, chairman of the advocacy group Marijuana Majority, said that while the numbers aren’t surprising, politicians should listen — and are listening — to the public on the issue.

“As more states implement marijuana reforms and those laws continue to work as advertised, we’re likely to see even more public support, which should soon spur Congress to formally end the criminalization of cannabis under federal law,” Mr. Angell said.