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The Truth About American Marijuana

Marijuana has had a turbulent history in the United States; seen in different eras as a source of enlightenment or a gateway drug to addiction, politicians have sought to influence public opinion of marijuana use to their own ends. Reagan’s War on Drugs exacerbated fears about drug addiction, including marijuana; but as it becomes legal in more and more states, many Americans have embraced marijuana for its medicinal properties as well and its use as a relatively safe and inexpensive way to get high.

But even as states like North Carolina and cities like Atlanta decriminalize marijuana possession, that doesn’t mean that everyone supports it.

Current American Marijuana Use

A 2017 survey reported in the Washington Post states that nearly 1 in every 4 Americans has tried marijuana at least once in their life; it also claimed that about 55 million Americans had used marijuana in the past year.

A July 2019 Gallup poll sheds more light on exactly who is American is using marijuana. According to the poll, the most common people who use marijuana are:

• More liberal
• Younger, between the ages of 18 and 29

Older and more conservative people are less likely to use marijuana; they are also, therefore, more likely to support keeping marijuana illegal at the federal level. Men are also more likely to use marijuana than women, according to the poll.

Marijuana Use and Crime

With 55 million people using marijuana today and a lot of support from young liberals, it can be easy to assume that the vast majority of people don’t see marijuana as a big deal. But marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, and even in states where it is legal, government agencies still restrict and screen for marijuana use for their employees.

Marijuana use is still fully illegal in nine US states, and its legal status is mixed in several others. Georgia, for example, allows the legal sale of CBD oil for medical purposes, but possession of marijuana is still a criminal offense outside of Atlanta, where it is decriminalized.

About 40% of US drug arrests involve marijuana, indicating that it is still very much a legal issue. If you live in a state that still criminalizes marijuana, you could face felony charges depending on how much is found in your possession. If you find yourself in this position, contact a criminal defense attorney, like from the Morales Law Firm, in order to get the representation you need.