Our Corner | Christians Divided on Morality, Legalization of Marijuana Use

In a new column for Religion & Politics, I sketch the generational differences that divided Christians on the morality and legalization of marijuana use.

In a new column for Religion & Politics, I sketch the generational differences that divided Christians on the morality and legalization of marijuana use. Majorities of most major religious groups (with the exception of white mainline Protestants, who are divided) oppose the legalization of marijuana. However, age is a stronger predictor then religious affiliation of attitudes toward the legalization and morality of marijuana use, and these generational divisions are having a distinct impact on Christians’ attitudes:

For example, while half (50 percent) of Christian young adults believe that marijuana use should be legal, only approximately 1-in-5 (22 percent) Christian seniors agree. Similarly, Christian young adults (52 percent) are more than twice as likely as Christian seniors (25 percent) to say that the use of marijuana is morally acceptable. And although a majority (54 percent) of Christian seniors believe that new laws legalizing the use of marijuana are a sign of America’s moral decline, only 3-in-10 (30 percent) Christian young adults hold this view, while two-thirds (67 percent) disagree.

Check out the full column online at Religion & Politics.

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