A recently released Gallup poll shows an interesting light on the topic of cannabis legalization in the U.S.

According to the results of Gallup’s poll on cannabis reform, 66 percent of Americans now support legalization, indicating a positive shift in opinion for the third consecutive year running.

The recent Gallup poll on cannabis reform was carried out from October 1 to 10, prior to America’s Northern neighbor Canada legalizing the green plant.

Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the U.S. Nonetheless, voters in four states will be advocating for recreational or medical cannabis use on the looming Election Day.

Poll on cannabis reform demonstrates a change in opinion since 1969

Back in 1969, when Gallup set out to find out what Americans thought about cannabis reform, a mere 12 percent of the people who participated in the survey gave the idea a thumbs-up.

That figure crept up to somewhere in the 20 percent range in the 1970s, with more people backing cannabis legalization as the years progressed.

An upward trend for cannabis reform support has been the most noticeable from the year 2000 and onwards. Majority support was apparent for the first time in 2013; this makes sense, due to the fact weed became legal for recreational use in both Colorado and Washington the year before via a ballot initiative.

Despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ distaste for weed, support for cannabis reform in the U.S. has not dwindled. An increasing number of states are passing measures to legalize weed. What’s more, President Donald Trump made Sessions look pretty stupid recently, when he vowed to support a bill that would enable states to elect their own cannabis policies.

The majority of Republicans support cannabis legalization

Sessions has also been undermined by members of his own political party. Just last year, Gallup discovered that a minute majority of Republicans supported legal cannabis.

Now, taking into account this year’s support, 53 percent, it is clear that Republican support for cannabis reform is getting stronger.

It’s not just Republicans who are backing the bud but also, Democrats, by 75 percent, and Independents, by 71 percent. Majority-level support was achieved by Democrats in 2009, with Independents following suit in 2010.

Most Americans ages 55 and above support cannabis reform

The Gallup poll on cannabis reform also revealed how 59 percent of adults aged 55 and over support legalization, a nine percent increase from last year. While this is promising, the younger generation are the strongest supporters of cannabis reform in the U.S., with 78 percent of adults aged 18-34 backing legal weed and 65 percent of adults aged 35-54 approving of legalizing cannabis.

Two in three people support legal weed across all U.S. states

Back in 2009 and 2010 prior to cannabis legalization, support hit the majority in the West, where 56 percent backed legal weed. Since this time, Westerners have taken the lead in most polls for cannabis reform.

Over the last two years, opinions on cannabis reform have altered drastically. Sweeping cannabis legalization is helping to educate the general public about cannabis’ medicinal potential; something that is contributing to the rising nationwide support for legal weed.

Based on the results of Gallup’s poll on cannabis reform, support for legalization last year and this year amounted to 67 percent in the East, 65 percent in the Midwest, 65 percent in the South and 65 percent in the West.