The Pew Research Center recently released a survey indicating that 63% of Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) who consider themselves to be Republican support cannabis legalization. In contrast, only 47% of Generation X Republicans (those born between 1965 and 1980) support legalization, a figure that continues to decline the older the Republican gets — 38% of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) favor legalization and a scant 17% of the Silent generation (who were born between 1928 and 1945) are pro-cannabis.
Democrats, somewhat unsurprisingly, are more supportive of legalization, with the following generational breakdown:
- Millennials: 77%
- Generation Xers: 61%
- Baby Boomers: 66%
- Silent generation: 44%
However, the nearly two-thirds figure of supportive Millennial Republicans indicate that we're definitely progressing as a country when it comes to our thoughts on legalizing cannabis, regardless of our political leanings. Younger people across party lines are speaking out in favor of legalization, indicating that this issue is becoming less and less partisan.
What's your political affiliation and stance on cannabis legalization?