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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 the UK believe cannabis should be legalised, a report has found.
Some four in five of those surveyed are of the view that the drug should either be legal without restriction or available through licensed shops. Just 20 per cent believe taking cannabis should continue to be against the law.
While members of Gen Z include those born between 1997 and 2012, 63 per cent of those who have reached voting age were of the view cannabis should be legal but only available through licensed shops. Another 17 per cent thought it should be legal without restrictions.
Some 47 per cent of Baby Boomers - born during the years 1946-64 - thought cannabis should only be legally available in licensed shops, with another 5 per cent saying it should be legal without restriction.
The picture was less clear among Gen X (born 1965-80) and Millennials (born between 1981-96) who were more liberal in their outlook.
While members of Gen Z include those born between 1997 and 2012, 63 per cent of those who have reached voting age were of the view cannabis should be legal but only available through licensed shops (stock image)
Some 47 per cent of Baby Boomers - born during the years 1946-64 - thought cannabis should only be legally available in licensed shops, with another 5 per cent saying it should be legal without restriction (stock image)
Overall Gen X were 58 per cent in agreement that cannabis should be legalised, while 67 per cent of Millennials thought the same.
The figures were released by the National Centre for Social Research as part of its 'Society Watch' report for 2024 - 'Understanding the new generation of voters'.
Other findings on law and order suggested that Gen Z were less likely to respect authority than older generations.
Just 16 per cent thought the law should always be obeyed - even when it is wrong - compared to 32 per cent of adults overall.
And 43 per cent felt it was important to express their moral convictions through civil disobedience if necessary - just a third (33 per cent) of older generations agreed.
The authors said: 'Gen Z have found themselves discussed in public spaces ranging from the World Economic Forum to advice columns, labelled as anything from illiberal to woke.
'Gen Z's views on law and order diverge sharply from previous generations.
'Much like their Baby Boomer grandparents in the 1960s, Gen Z find themselves at odds with previous generations on personal freedoms, civil liberties and the role of the government in their lives.
'Our data shows that Gen Z hold strong moral convictions, which they are willing to voice loudly and confidently.
'They are willing to break laws they don't agree with and make their voices heard through protests.
'They also take a liberal approach to personal freedoms on issues such as drug policy, and tend not to support tough, punitive criminal justice policies.
'Our analysis shows it's likely that Gen Z's more liberal views on authority and individual freedom will stand the test of time.'
The report drew on the British Social Attitudes survey data, which has tracked public attitudes for more than 40 years.
Lovisa Moller, Director of Analysis at NatCen and co-author of Society Watch 2024 said: 'A generational perspective helps explain how Britain is (or is not) changing.
'By looking at birth cohorts, we can help explain views on the relative importance of social order and individual freedom, for example.
'If present trends persist, Gen Z will be a generation that value personal freedoms and civil liberties more than any other current generation.'