Poll: 44 Percent of Americans Say They Have Tried Marijuana

A new Gallup poll finds 44 percent of American adults say they have tried marijuana. This is the largest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 1969. Only 4 percent of Americans that year said they had used marijuana.

Each year, more Americans say they have tried marijuana, Gallup said. This may reflect either an increase in the percentage of people who have used the drug, or an increased willingness of people to admit they have done so, the organization notes.

The poll found 11 percent of Americans say they currently smoke marijuana, while 19 percent say they smoke cigarettes. In 2013, 7 percent of Americans said they smoked marijuana.

According to Gallup, 18 percent of Americans ages 18 to 30 say they currently smoke marijuana. The poll found 18 percent of people with no religious affiliation have used marijuana, compared with 6 percent of those who identify themselves as Catholic and 5 percent of those who identify themselves as Protestant.

Forty-seven percent of men have tried marijuana, compared with 35 percent of women. The poll found 13 percent of men and 6 percent of women say they are current marijuana users.

Among adults who earn less than $30,000 a year, 14 percent say they are current marijuana users, compared with 7 percent of those earning $75,000 or more.