A new Pew Research poll reveals how marijuana stacks up against alcohol, gambling, porn and divorce in America’s evolving moral code
If morality was a school cafeteria, cannabis would no longer be stuck at the “loser” table. It seems lately, Americans lighten up about marijuana while judging everything else. According to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, Americans are increasingly relaxed about marijuana use—especially when compared to behaviors like gambling, pornography, and even drinking alcohol.
The findings, drawn from a 25-country study conducted in 2025, show the U.S. taking a notably chill stance on cannabis. Just 23% of Americans say using marijuana is morally unacceptable, placing it among the more widely accepted behaviors surveyed.
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That puts cannabis in interesting company. Gambling, often seen as a vice, fares slightly worse—29% of Americans consider it morally wrong—but still lands in a similar “mostly tolerated” category. Meanwhile, drinking alcohol—long woven into social life—generates mixed feelings globally, with shifting attitudes over time but no clear moral consensus.
And then there’s pornography. Here, Americans suddenly rediscover their moral compass. In the U.S., 58% of women and 47% of men say viewing pornography is morally wrong, highlighting a significant gender divide and a much stronger level of disapproval than cannabis receives.
Divorce, on the other hand, has quietly become one of the least controversial behaviors in modern society. Across most countries surveyed, two-thirds or more of adults say it is either morally acceptable or not a moral issue at all. In other words, ending a marriage is widely seen as more morally neutral than lighting up a joint once was.
What makes cannabis especially fascinating is not just its acceptance—but how quickly perceptions have shifted. Historically stigmatized and criminalized, marijuana is now viewed by many Americans through a practical, even compassionate lens. The rise of medical cannabis has played a major role in reshaping opinions, with patients using it to manage chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and the side effects of cancer treatments.
This medical context softens moral judgment. For many, cannabis is no longer about rebellion—it’s about relief. The shift helps explain why Americans are among the least likely globally to view marijuana use as morally wrong.
Still, morality in America remains anything but simple. The Pew data suggests people are selective in their judgments. Extramarital affairs, for example, are overwhelmingly condemned, with about 9 in 10 Americans calling them morally wrong. Yet on issues like cannabis and gambling, attitudes are far more permissive.
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Age, education, and religion also shape these views. Older adults and those who say religion is very important in their lives are more likely to see marijuana—and other behaviors—as morally unacceptable. At the same time, younger and more educated Americans tend to take a more relaxed approach.
Perhaps the most entertaining takeaway is this: Americans may disagree on a lot, but they’ve quietly reached a kind of moral compromise. You can get divorced, place a bet, or even use cannabis—and many will shrug. But scroll the wrong website or cheat on your spouse, and suddenly the judgment comes rushing back.
In the evolving hierarchy of American morality, cannabis isn’t leading the parade—but it’s no longer hiding in the shadows either.
