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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsDomestic PolicyStarted 14yrs agoActive 2yrs ago

Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?

In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act which banned the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain drugs. The act ranked drugs by their potential for abuse and placed them into five categories. Two of the most widely used drugs in the U.S., wine and alcohol, are exempt from the classifications. Ballot measures in several states including Colorado, Washington and Oregon have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. These laws apply only within the respective states and have no effect on Federal law.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 6.9m America voters.

58%
Yes
42%
No
39%
Yes
37%
No
14%
Yes, for most but not all drugs
2%
No, but decriminalize drugs that offer medicinal benefits such as marijuana
5%
Yes, and retroactively reduce sentences for those already serving time
2%
No, we should pass tougher drug laws
1%
No, but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation
0%
No, and increase punishment for drug dealers

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 6.9m America voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 6.9m America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @4Q4842Pfrom California  answered…6yrs6Y

Drug addiction is a mental illness, not a crime. We have Alcoholics Anonymous, which helps people take back their lives, why not have the same thing for drugs?

 @9D8GBQR from Texas  answered…3yrs3Y

No and ban alcohol cigarettes tobacco and pornography

 @4VXP5HTfrom New York  answered…6yrs6Y

Only if we summarily execute those who sell to people under age 25. (So brain fully develops. Marijuana should be legal over age 21.

 @534HWNPfrom New York  answered…6yrs6Y

Instead of jail time there should be mandatory rehab, and parole for that same as jail. They are still using in jails, so that only perpetuates the problem.

 @9RHYD7S from Michigan  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, decriminalize the buying of drugs but regulate the selling of it. And drug addicts should get the same kind of treatment as alcoholics

 @4THMGRMfrom Connecticut  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes, but drugs can also be used as weapons (i.e. as poisons), and hence should be controlled. Recreational use should be legal.

 @4Q4C63Lfrom Nevada  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes, but level harsh penalties against the user if they hurt someone while under the influence.

 @8N6QGZS from Texas  answered…6yrs6Y

I do not understand what decriminalization is so I’m going to say that if you possess a drug that’s illegal you should be arrested

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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About This Data

Based on 6.9m responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

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iSideWith. (2026). “Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/3507542

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