Support for marijuana has reached an all-time high, a positive sign ahead of the Nov. 8 election. The legalization of pot is on the ballot in nine states and supporters believe the measures will pass, at least most certainly in California and Florida.
"It's well established that the majority of Americans now believe that the responsible use of marijuana by adults should not be a criminal offense," Paul Armentano, the deputy director of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told NBC News.
Recreational pot use is on the ballot in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. In Florida, Arkansas, Montana, and North Dakota, voters will decide whether the use of medical marijuana will soon be legal.
The news would be embraced in states struggling with budget shortfalls, according to NBC. Legal marijuana sales are expected to surpass $22 billion this year and, last year climbed from $4.6 billion to $5.7 billion, according to a report by ArcView Market Research and New Frontier.
Support has risen significantly over the years, according to two national polls. A Gallup Poll showed backing of pot is at its highest at 60 percent, and a survey by the Pew Research Center showed 57 percent of adults said it should be legal, when 10 years ago that number was 60 percent opposed.
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