The most recent Gallup poll puts support for ending cannabis prohibition at the federal level at a record 60%. That is up from 36% in 2005. Momentum for reform has never been greater in American history, and the push to end cannabis prohibition in professional sports has benefited greatly from more and more Americans getting on the right side of history.

Cannabis use among pro athletes is an issue that has been covered a lot in the media lately. Too many players are getting wrongfully penalized for consuming a plant that has been found to be 114 times safer than alcohol. Adults over the age of 21 can now legally consume cannabis in 8 states and Washington D.C.. Yet, still, the NFL will penalize a player for consuming cannabis, even if the consumption was in a legal state. That’s ridiculous.

A majority of poll participants in a recent PRRI poll agree. The poll asked, among other questions, if professional athletes should be allowed to consume cannabis. Below are the poll results specific to that question:

A majority (54%) of the public believe professional athletes should not be prohibited from using marijuana if they live in a state where it is legal.

Again, there are considerable differences of opinion between Democrats and Republicans. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Republicans believe professional athletes should be barred from using marijuana, while only about one-third (35%) of Democrats agree.

Opinion is fractured along religious lines as well. Roughly two-thirds (64%) of white evangelical Protestants believe professional athletes should not be allowed to use marijuana. A majority (53%) of white mainline Protestants also support a ban. Fewer than half of non-white Protestants (46%), Catholics (45%), and religiously unaffiliated Americans (25%) support banning professional athletes from using marijuana.

A majority of fans want professional athletes to be able to consume cannabis if they are doing so legally in a legal state. Most athletes want it. The greater American public wants cannabis reform to end. So why are leagues clinging to prohibition?

California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C. Below are the Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and National Football League (NFL) teams in those areas:

California – Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels

Massachusetts – Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots

Oregon – Portland Trail Blazers

Washington – Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners

Colorado – Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies

Washington D.C. – Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards

image via New Horizon Escapes