As more US states continue to legalize cannabis – and Canada prepares to end prohibition nationwide – social attitudes are also evolving. A new Yahoo News/Marist poll posted earlier this week found that the stigmas that have shadowed cannabis for years are starting to die out. Support for medical and adult use legalization continues to climb (80% for medical, 49% for adult use), and one in four Americans are looking to invest in federally-legal cannabis companies. The poll also found some interesting behavior among cannabis consumers. 86% have used cannabis at a party or social event with friends – not exactly shocking. But did you figure 16% would consume before a religious service? 20% before a funeral? Interesting…
The Yahoo/Marist poll surveyed 1,122 adults in the United States, and was conducted in March 2017.
There seems to be overwhelming support across the United States to legalize medicinal marijuana. But support drops when people are asked whether cannabis should be legal for all adults.
At What Age Did You Get ‘The Talk’?
Of the respondents who had consumed cannabis, at what age did they first consume? And what age do they feel is appropriate for a first try? The survey found some curious results.
| Question | Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| What age do you think someone is old enough to make a decision about whether or not to use cannabis? | 19.5 |
| How old were you the first time you tried marijuana? | 17.9 |
| About how old was your child when you first spoke to them about cannabis? ( Asked of parents who talked to children about marijuana ) | 12.5 |
| About how old were you when your parents first spoke to you about cannabis? ( Asked of adults whose parents talked to them about marijana ) | 13.6 |
A Matter of Respect
Here’s a question we hadn’t thought of before: What would you do if you found out your child’s teacher consumed cannabis in their personal life outside of work? Would you lose respect for that person? Or would the consumption of cannabis not make a difference?
Are You In or Are You Out?
This is a question that we get here at Leafly nearly every day: Should I invest in a cannabis company? The Yahoo/Marist poll found that a little more than one-quarter of the American public wants to get in on the market – but only once it’s federally legal.
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And it appears that the surge in cannabis sales in the week prior to Thanksgiving may be no myth. More than half of all cannabis consumers say they’ve enjoyed the product prior to a family function. Stress reduction. We get it. But what about experience enhancement? Yahoo/Marist has that angle covered as well: 68% of consumers have enjoyed cannabis before sex.
| Where and Why do Cannabis Users Consume |
|---|
| 86% of users have used cannabis during a party or social event with friends. |
| 78% have used cannabis before a social event with friends. |
| 68% have used cannabis before having sex. |
| 54% have used cannabis before a family function. |
| 29%, have used cannabis before test. |
| 20% say they have used cannabis before a funeral. |
| 16% have used cannabis before a religious service. |
| 37% say they use cannabis to relax. |
| 19% use cannabis to relieve pain. |
| 16% use cannabis for fun. |
