It’s not just cannabis — religious people are generally opposed to alternative medicine compared to those who self-identify as being “spiritual.”
Americans who regularly attend religious services and have religious beliefs are less likely to use cannabis for medical or recreational reasons. Unless, of course, you are a Rastafarian.
According to a report published in Journal of Drug Issues, those living a religious life “tend to exhibit lower rates of medical and recreational marijuana use.”
The researchers found:
The study reveals it’s not just cannabis — religious people are generally opposed to alternative medicine compared to those who self-identify as being “spiritual.” One theory suggests religious individuals may disapprove of certain medical technologies in part because they see potential value in suffering, as compared to nonreligious individuals, which tend to view suffering as something to stop as quickly as possible.
RELATED: Cannabis And Churchgoers Don’t Mix Well, Study Shows
Of course, this is not the first study to find religiosity and marijuana don’t mix. A 2016 study found people who believe the Bible is God’s word were 58% less likely to also support marijuana legalization. Study author Daniel Krystosek, a graduate student in sociology at the University of Nevada, pooled together the data of three national surveys from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago conducted in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
In 2018, a Pew Research Poll found only 38% of white evangelical Christians support marijuana legalization. Eight out of 10 Americans who do not affiliate with an organized religion support cannabis reform.
