Americans' general support for medical uses of marijuana does not extend to their embracing of initiatives to legalize the drug outright, according to an April 7-12 Associated Press-CNBC poll.

The Associated Press reported April 20 that in the telephone poll of 1,000 adults nationally, only 33 percent of respondents favored marijuana legalization, along the lines of what California voters will consider this November, while 55 percent opposed it. By contrast, 60 percent of respondents supported use of medical marijuana, which is now allowed in 13 states. In addition, 74 percent said they believe the drug yields medical benefits for some individuals.

On the legalization question, only the age group under 30 gave majority support to the idea (54 percent). Also, only 14 percent of all opponents to legalization said they would support the idea if states opted to tax marijuana. The revenue generation argument has been a popular strategy employed by pro-legalization groups in cash-strapped states.

Many opponents of legalization in the poll cited concerns that legalization would lead to more widespread abuse of the drug. “I think it would be chaos if it was legalized,” said Shirley Williams, a retired Illinois teacher. “People would get in trouble and use marijuana as an excuse.”