What’s Gen Z on? Four in five adults born between 1997 and 2012 believe weed should be legalised
The vast majority of Generation Z adults in Britain believe cannabis should be legalised, a report has found.
About four in five respondents believe the drug should either be legal without restrictions or available through authorized stores. Only 20 percent believe that cannabis use should remain against the law.
While Generation Z also includes those born between 1997 and 2012, 63 percent of those of voting age believed that cannabis should be legal but only available in licensed stores. Another 17 percent thought it should be legal without restrictions.
About 47 percent of baby boomers — born between 1946 and 1964 — said cannabis should only be legally available in licensed stores, while another 5 percent said it should be legal without restrictions.
The picture was less clear among Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) and Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996), who were more liberal in their views.
While Generation Z also includes those born between 1997 and 2012, 63 percent of those of voting age believed that cannabis should be legal but only available through licensed stores (stock image)
About 47 percent of baby boomers – born between 1946 and 1964 – said cannabis should only be legally available in licensed stores, while another 5 percent said it should be legal without restrictions (stock image)
Overall, 58 percent of Gen X agreed that cannabis should be legalized, while 67 percent of Millennials felt the same way.
The figures were released by the National Center for Social Research as part of the ‘Society Watch’ 2024 report – ‘Understanding the next generation of voters’.
Other findings on public policy suggested that Generation Z was less likely to respect authority than older generations.
Only 16 percent said the law should always be followed – even when it is wrong – compared to 32 percent of adults overall.
And 43 percent felt it was important to express their moral beliefs through civil disobedience, if necessary; only a third (33 percent) of older generations agreed.
The authors said: ‘Gen Z have been discussed in public spaces ranging from the World Economic Forum to advice columns, labeled as everything from illiberal to woke.
‘Generation Z’s views on law and order differ greatly from previous generations.
“Like their baby boomer grandparents in the 1960s, Generation Z is at odds with previous generations over personal freedoms, civil liberties, and the role of government in their lives.
“Our data shows that Gen Z has strong moral beliefs, which they want to express loudly and confidently.
“They are willing to break laws they disagree with and make their voices heard through protests.
‘They also take a liberal approach to personal freedoms in areas such as drug policy, and are generally not in favor of strict, punitive criminal justice policies.
“Our analysis shows that Generation Z’s more liberal views on authority and individual freedom are likely to stand the test of time.”
The report was based on the British Social Attitudes survey data, which has tracked public opinion for more than four decades.
Lovisa Moller, director of analytics at NatCen and co-author of Society Watch 2024, said: ‘A generational perspective helps explain how Britain is changing (or not).
‘By looking at birth cohorts, we can help explain views on, for example, the relative importance of social order and individual freedom.
“If current trends continue, Gen Z will be a generation that values personal freedoms and civil liberties more than any other current generation.”