Determinants of Public Support for Marijuana Legalization in Uruguay, the United States, and El Salvador

Abstract

What are the determinants of public support for marijuana legalization? In the last 3 years, Uruguay and the states of Colorado and Washington have legalized the production, sale, and consumption of recreational marijuana. Although Uruguay and the United States have followed different paths toward legalization, these cases provide an excellent opportunity to explore the relationship between drug policy implementation and public opinion in different political contexts. Using logistic regressions on data from the 2014 AmericasBarometer cross-national surveys conducted in Uruguay, the United States, and El Salvador, this article examines citizen views toward marijuana regulation and the individual determinants of support for legalization in a comparative fashion. Results underline the role of political socialization variables in those countries in which legalization is being debated. Across countries, some of the most important factors for predicting positive attitudes toward marijuana regulation are related to political tolerance, ideology, and the views toward the government.

Support for marijuana legalization in the US state of Washington has continued to increase through 2016

“…Still, support for legalization of recreational marijuana continues to increase across the United States and globally (Cruz et al, 2016; Galston and Dionne, 2013). In 2016, recreational marijuana was legalized in the most populous US state of California, as well as Massachusetts, Maine, and Nevada.…”

“…While US states have experienced “bottom-up” approaches to legalization, with marijuana legislation generally initiated and voted on by the public, Uruguay undertook a “top-down” approach in which the government legalized marijuana production and distribution in 2012 despite widespread public opposition (Cruz et al, 2016). The Latin American Public Opinion Project found that in 2014, 51.5% of those interviewed in the US supported legalization, while only 34% of those interviewed in Uruguay favored legalization; this underscores the fact that changing a policy does not necessarily change the majority opinion (Cruz et al, 2016).…”

“…The Latin American Public Opinion Project found that in 2014, 51.5% of those interviewed in the US supported legalization, while only 34% of those interviewed in Uruguay favored legalization; this underscores the fact that changing a policy does not necessarily change the majority opinion (Cruz et al, 2016). …”

Uruguay’s middle-ground approach to cannabis legalization

“…2 The specific regulations were developed by the legislature (of the same political party that elected Mujica) and the bill was ratified in December 2013. Although pro-legalization activists played a role in advocating for legalization, this process was largely a top-down effort (Cruz et al, 2016). In fact, there was widespread opposition to the regulation of cannabis: 61–66% of Uruguayans in 2012–2013 opposed it (Walsh & Ramsey, 2016).…”

Dos drogas, diferentes mensajes: los medios y la regulación de la marihuana y el alcohol en Uruguay

“…Recientemente, Uruguay reguló el mercado de la marihuana y discutió la regulación del mercado del alcohol. La regulación de la marihuana es una política que recibe más rechazos que aprobaciones en la opinión pública uruguaya (Boidi, Queirolo y Cruz, 2016a); en cambio, la regulación del mercado del alcohol cuenta con una mayoría absoluta de aprobaciones (Cifra, 2015). ¿Por qué dos regulaciones discutidas en el mismo momento histórico reciben tan diferente apoyo por parte de la ciudadanía?…”