At a time when President Obama will have to face a challenge to support the decriminalization of marijuana, the Gallup organization released a new poll saying a “record high” number of Americans — 50 percent — support legalizing pot.

Bad timing for the prez: It's election season, and we're pretty sure he doesn't want to seem like too much of a lefty.

Oh well, the people have spoken. According to Gallup:

A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal.

Pot finds its biggest support among 18- to 29-year-olds (62 percent) and gets less love from the 65-and-older set (31 percent are for legalization). As expected, Democrats and independents like it more the Republicans, and men and West and Midwest residents are more bud-friendly.

About 69 percent of self-professed liberals say yes to weed; only 34 percent of those who identified as conservatives said we should legalize it.

Gallup says support for legalization is the “highest on record” and wonders aloud of the nation's laws will soon reflect the people's wishes:

If this current trend on legalizing marijuana continues, pressure may build to bring the nation's laws into compliance with the people's wishes.

I have a (pipe) dream, indeed.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.