9 facts about Americans and marijuana
88% of Americans say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use. Just 11% say the drug should not be legal in any form.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
88% of Americans say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use. Just 11% say the drug should not be legal in any form.
Just 20% of the public views the coronavirus as a major threat to the health of the U.S. population and only 10% are very concerned about getting a serious case themselves. In addition, a relatively small share of U.S. adults (28%) say they’ve received an updated COVID-19 vaccine since last fall.
Overall, there are about 42.5 million Americans with disabilities, making up 13% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
Democrats hold the edge on many issues, but more Americans agree with Republicans on the economy, crime and immigration. Inflation remains the top concern for Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, with 77% saying it is a very big problem. For Democrats and Democratic leaners, gun violence is the top concern, with about 81% saying it is a very big problem.
Americans now see reducing the budget deficit as a higher priority for the president and Congress to address than in recent years. But strengthening the economy continues to be the public’s top policy priority.
A majority of Americans say medication abortion should be legal, but there is a stark divide by age, religion and party affiliation.
Overall, 46% of Americans say the statement “public health officials were unprepared for the outbreak” describes their views extremely or very well, including similar shares of Republicans and Democrats.
58% of those ages 18 to 29 have experienced high levels of psychological distress at least once between March 2020 and September 2022.
As has often been the case on policy questions about how to deal with the pandemic, partisans are far apart in their views on mask mandates.
The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.
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