Apr 24, 2019

Most Americans want to legalize marijuana, but hate the smell

Photo: Nikolay Doychinov/Getty Images

A new survey indicates that more than 80% of Americans are reportedly in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, but more than half of those surveyed dislike marijuana's odor in public settings.

By the numbers: Per the study results from PSB Research, Civilized, Burson Cohn & Wolfe and Buzzfeed News, nearly one-quarter of Americans claim to "hate" the stench, with public consumption on the rise in the 10 states that have legalized the drug.

  • 23% of Americans surveyed described the trace of marijuana in public as a "major problem," while 28% said it was a minor problem.
  • 23% of Americans said: "I hate when I smell cannabis in public."
  • 41% said they neither notice, nor care.
  • 21% said it was not a problem.
  • Among current cannabis consumers in the U.S., one-third said having to smell the substance in public is an issue, and 10% called it a major problem.

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