Nancy Reagan Who? Americans “Just Say ‘Yes!’” to Reefer

In 2024, a Pew Research Center poll showed “an overwhelming share of U.S. adults (88%) say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use.”

And not just citizens. The Oct. 24 New York Times emphasized a growing tolerance for marijuana legalization among politicians in its piece titled “America’s Embrace of Marijuana”:

Twelve years ago, mainstream politicians opposed marijuana legalization. Recreational use was forbidden even in the most liberal states.

Today, even conservative states are considering the policy — including North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida, through ballot initiatives this November. And both presidential contenders now favor legalization. This is the first time even one major-party candidate has publicly supported legalizing pot.

The shift was unusually quick for American politics; it’s very rare for the bipartisan consensus to flip in less than a generation.

Our “Must-Read Highlights from the Socionomist” report sheds light on why Americans have gone from “just say nope to dope” to “pass the grass.” Chapter 5 of the must-read report begins:

– Pro-Pot Movement –

THE COMING COLLAPSE OF A MODERN PROHIBITION
by Euan Wilson


Over the past 100 years, governmental activities have manifested these changing attitudes. During periods of rising mood, policymakers stepped up regulation of cannabis. During periods of falling mood, they eased those same stances.

As shown in Figure 1, each legislative attempt to restrict marijuana use followed at least three, and in most cases four or five, bull-market years. In 1937, Congress passed the marijuana Tax Act. The law banned casual consumption of the drug and limited its use to specific medical and industrial purposes.

We predict a similar fate for the prohibition of marijuana, if not the entire War on Drugs.

July 2009 Socionomist

Today, the seeds of negative social mood have given rise to the plant of pro-pot perception and policies across the country. It’s one of many, incredible socionomic “high”lestones featured in the “Must-Read Highlights from the Socionomist” report.

You can read the full Pro Pot Movement chapter inside our “Must-Read Highlights Issue on Social Mood” for free. Simply visit the EWI homepage, click the button beside the Social Mood Highlights Issue and enter your email address.

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You’ll also see the following full chapters inside the Highlights Issue:

  • Russia: From Bull Market to Global Bully
  • Authoritarianism Across the Globe
  • Polarization Inc.: The Disunited States of America
  • Epidemics: Spanish Flu to Covid 19

Read our brand-new FREE report “Must-Read Highlights Issue on Social Mood” now.

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