Support for legalizing marijuana has reached a record high of 70% among U.S. adults, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday.

Gallup said pro-legalization support rose by 2 percentage points after having held steady at 68% for three years, with no difference in support between states where cannabis is legal and states where it remains illegal.

The polling firm surveyed adults before Tuesday’s election, in which Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana for residents 21 years old and older.

“Although some health organizations and political commentators have raised concerns about the medical risks of marijuana, this hasn’t blunted the public’s desire for legalization thus far,” Gallup said. “For now, the high level of support among younger adults suggests national backing will only expand in the years ahead, likely resulting in more states, and perhaps the federal government, moving to legalize it.”

According to Gallup, enthusiasm for marijuana among younger adults has driven a decadeslong “green wave” of support for legalization from a low of 12% recorded in 1969.

Most Republicans responding to Gallup surveys have supported legalization since 2017 and most conservatives have supported it since 2022, the company noted.

However, Gallup also noted that support is 6-11 percentage points lower in the East than in other regions of the country, “consistent with the recent trend.”

Gallup conducted a randomized national telephone survey of 1,009 adults Oct. 2-23. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

• Sean Salai can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.