A Gallup survey last year showed that 70 percent of Americans favored making it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana in order to reduce pain and suffering. The support for legalized marijuana use has continued to climb since Gallup first began asking questions about it in 1969. Then, only 12 percent of Americans supported legalization, with 84 percent opposed.

Today 50 percent of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana, up from 46 percent last year, according to a new Gallup poll. It was the first time in the survey that the number of people favoring legalization was higher than those opposed.

Throughout the late 1970s into the 1990s support for legalization of marijuana remained in the mid 20-percent range, with it passing 30 percent in 2000 and 40 percent in 2009.

The latest poll shows that support for legalized pot is highest:

1.) in the West (55 percent)

2.) among liberals (69 percent)

3.) younger Americans (62 percent)

4.) and men (55 percent).

No Kidding!

Despite all of this... cannabis is only legal for people with doctors’ recommendations in 16 states, though it remains illegal under federal law. Last week, the federal government vowed to crack down on dispensaries selling marijuana in California, where thousands of outlets have sprung up.