Illegal Drugs

How Much Progress Do You Feel the Nation Has Made Over the Last Year or Two in Coping With the Problem of Illegal Drugs?

Overall, how would you describe the problem of drugs [ROTATED: in the United States/in the area where you live] -- is it extremely serious, very serious, moderately serious, not too serious, or not serious at all?

A. In the United States

	Extremely serious	Very serious	Moderately serious	Not too serious	Not serious at all	No opin- ion
2009 Oct 1-4	35%	33	26	5	1	1
2007 Oct 4-7	35%	38	24	1	1	1
2005 Oct 13-16	37%	33	23	5	1	1
2003 Oct 6-8	31%	40	24	3	1	1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	43%	40	15	1	1	*
* Less than 0.5%

B. In the area where you live

	Extremely serious	Very serious	Moderately serious	Not too serious	Not serious at all	No opin- ion
2009 Oct 1-4	14%	16	38	23	8	1
2007 Oct 4-7	14%	15	39	21	10	2
2005 Oct 13-16	14%	19	35	23	8	1
2003 Oct 6-8	13%	17	36	22	11	1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	13%	21	39	19	6	2

Now, how much progress do you feel the nation has made over the last year or two in coping with the problem of illegal drugs -- has it made much progress, made some progress, stood still, lost some ground, or lost much ground?

	Made much progress	Made some progress	Stood still	Lost some ground	Lost much ground	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Oct 1-4	3	30	31	19	13	3
2007 Oct 4-7	3	31	31	19	13	3
2005 Oct 13-16	2	31	30	23	13	1
2003 Oct 6-8	3	35	32	17	11	2
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	6	41	23	17	12	1
1999 Sep 23-26	4	42	27	14	12	1
1996 Nov 21-24	3	28	22	24	22	1
1995 Sep 14-17	2	36	30	19	11	2
1976 Jun	2	25	29	25	15	4
1974 Apr	4	36	21	19	16	5
1972 May	3	32	20	21	20	5

Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?

	Yes, legal	No, illegal	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Oct 1-4 ^	44	54	2
2005 Oct 13-16 ^	36	60	4
2003 Nov 10-12 ^	34	64	2
2001 Aug 3-5	34	62	4
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 ^	31	64	5
1995 Aug 28-30	25	73	2
1985 May 17-20	23	73	4
1980 Jun 27-30	25	70	5
1979 May 18-21	25	70	5
1977 Apr 1-4	28	66	6
1973 Jan 26-29	16	78	6
1972 Mar 3-5	15	81	4
1969 Oct 2-7	12	84	4
^Asked of a half sample

Some people have proposed legalizing marijuana and then taxing its sale as a way of raising revenue for state governments. Would you favor or oppose this in the state where you live?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
2009 Oct 1-4 ^	42%	56	2
^ Asked of a half sample

Has drug abuse ever been a cause of trouble in your family?

	Yes	No	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Oct 13-16	22	78	*
2003 Oct 6-8	24	76	*
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5	22	78	*
1999 Sep 23-26	17	83	*
1995 Sep 14-17	19	81	*
* Less than 0.5%

Do you think the possession of small amounts of marijuana should or should not be treated as a criminal offense?

	Yes, treated as a criminal offense	No, not treated as a criminal offense	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Oct 13-16 ^	43	55	2
2003 Nov 10-12 ^	52	46	1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 ^	51	47	2
1985 May 17-20	50	46	4
1980 Jun 27-30	43	52	5
1977 Apr 1-4	41	53	6
^Asked of a half sample

Would you favor or oppose making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
2005 Oct 13-16	78%	22	*
2003 Nov 10-12	75%	22	3
* Less than 0.5%

Trend for comparison: Suppose that on election day this year you could vote on key issues as well as candidates. Please tell me whether you would vote for or against each one of the following propositions. Would you vote for or against making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering?(SOURCE: Gallup poll)