Almost Two-Thirds of Young Republicans Support Marijuana Legalization: Survey

Among Republicans ages 18 to 34, almost two-thirds say they support marijuana legalization, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Among Republicans ages 35 to 50, almost half approve legalization, NPR reports.

The survey found 77 percent of young adult Democrats (known as Millenials), and 61 percent of those ages 35 to 50, favor legalization.

According to Pew, “The debate over marijuana also comes ahead of the 2016 presidential election, when both political parties are fighting over the coveted Millennial vote as this group of eligible voters swells in size, even if its members do not consistently show up on Election Day.”

Pew found 38 percent of Baby Boomer Republicans, ages 51 to 69, favor legalizing marijuana, compared with 66 percent of Democrats of the same age.

A survey conducted by Pew in 2014 found 75 percent of Americans think it is inevitable that recreational marijuana will become legal across the country. More Americans are in favor of overturning laws that require jail time for possessing small amounts of marijuana, the survey found.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they thought marijuana legalization would lead to more underage people trying the drug.