UC Berkeley Survey Finds Voter Support for Psychedelic Decriminalization Remains Stagnant

A new nationwide survey from the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics reveals that while public support for medical and therapeutic uses of psychedelics is rising, attitudes toward decriminalizing personal use remain largely unchanged. According to data collected from 1,577 registered U.S. voters in April 2025, support for making psychedelic research easier increased by 14 percentage points, and prescription access climbed by 12 points over the past two years. However, the share of voters backing the removal of criminal penalties for personal possession barely shifted, moving from 29% in 2023 to just 28% in 2025—a statistically insignificant change

The findings underscore a growing divide between support for clinical access and broader decriminalization efforts. "A minority share of the population are increasingly supportive of regulated, controlled access, but significant concerns around safety remain," said Tyrone Sgambati, lead author of the survey. The report, titled 'A Rising Tide of Cautious Support,' notes that the public is much more comfortable granting access to psychedelics for individuals with serious health conditions than for recreational users

The survey details that large majorities of voters favor regulated therapeutic access or decriminalization for populations such as military veterans, people with depression or addiction, and those in end-of-life care. In fact, 86% of respondents support at least regulated therapeutic access or decriminalization for people receiving end-of-life care—the survey's strongest finding. By contrast, only 26% support decriminalization for adults over 21 who do not have a medical need, while another 26% continue to support outright prohibition for this group

Despite an uptick in local and state-level advocacy, as well as significant federal interest in psychedelic research, public opinion on personal use has proven resistant to change. The survey also highlights the persistence of social stigma: while 48% of voters associate psychedelic users with being 'open-minded' and 37% with being 'creative,' only 16-17% picked descriptors like 'moral' or 'smart.' Roughly a quarter of respondents still see users as 'addicts' or 'irresponsible.' Safety concerns are particularly pronounced among conservative and Black voters, with 50% of Black respondents describing psychedelics as 'addictive,' compared to 34% of non-Black voters

These dynamics emphasize a clear trend: voters are willing to support psychedelic access for those deemed deserving or in need, but remain wary of broader decriminalization. The movement that once championed personal autonomy and cognitive liberty now finds itself outpaced by a medicalization framework that resonates more strongly with the public. As the report concludes, 'The clinical and therapeutic framing is pulling the public along. The cognitive liberty framing has not moved a single point.'

From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, this split in public opinion could shape the next phase of drug policy reform in the United States. While support for clinical access continues to grow, advocates for broader decriminalization face a difficult road ahead unless they can address lingering safety concerns and social stigma. For the global cannabis and psychedelics sectors, these findings highlight the importance of medical legitimacy and underscore the challenges facing movements rooted in personal freedom and bodily autonomy