Americans are more relaxed about marijuana while judging everything else

A new survey from Pew Research shows how marijuana stacks up against alcohol, gambling, porn and divorce in America's evolving moral code

If morality were a school cafeteria, cannabis would no longer be stuck at the “losers” table. It seems that Americans are becoming more relaxed about marijuana lately while judging everything else. According to a new survey by… Pew Research CenterAmericans are becoming increasingly more relaxed about marijuana use — especially compared to behaviors like gambling, pornography and even drinking.

The results of a 25-country study conducted in 2025 show that the United States has a particularly cautious attitude towards cannabis. Only 23% of Americans say marijuana use is morally unacceptable, making it one of the most widely accepted behaviors among respondents.

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This brings cannabis into interesting company. Gambling, often viewed as a vice, fares slightly worse — 29% of Americans consider it morally reprehensible — but still falls into the similar “mostly tolerated” category. Meanwhile, alcohol consumption, long a part of social life, generates mixed feelings around the world, with attitudes changing over time but no clear moral consensus.

And then there is pornography. Here Americans are suddenly rediscovering their moral compass. In the US, 58% of women and 47% of men say watching pornography is morally wrong, indicating a significant gender gap and a much higher level of disapproval than for cannabis.

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Divorce, on the other hand, has quietly become one of the least controversial behaviors in modern society. In most countries surveyed, at least two-thirds of adults say this is either morally acceptable or not a moral problem at all. In other words, ending a marriage is generally viewed as more morally neutral than lighting up a joint once was.

What makes cannabis particularly fascinating is not only its acceptance, but also the speed with which perceptions have changed. Marijuana has been stigmatized and criminalized in the past and is now viewed by many Americans from a practical, even compassionate perspective. The rise of medical cannabis has played a major role in reshaping opinions as patients use it to treat chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy and the side effects of cancer treatments.

This medical context tempers moral judgment. For many, cannabis is no longer about rebellion but rather relief. The shift helps explain why Americans are among the least likely in the world to view marijuana use as morally wrong.

Yet morality in America remains anything but simple. The Pew data suggests that people are selective in their judgments. Extramarital affairs, for example, are overwhelmingly condemned, with about nine in 10 Americans describing them as morally reprehensible. However, when it comes to issues such as cannabis and gambling, the attitude is 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 view marijuana – and other behaviors – as morally unacceptable. At the same time, younger and more educated Americans tend to have a more relaxed attitude.

Perhaps the most entertaining insight is this: Americans may disagree on many issues, but they have quietly found some kind of moral compromise. You can get a divorce, make a bet, or even use cannabis – and many will shrug their shoulders. But scroll on the wrong website or cheat on your spouse and suddenly the judgment comes back.

In the evolving hierarchy of American morality, cannabis isn't at the top—but it's no longer hiding in the shadows, either.