Which issues most divide Americans? Gallup lists marijuana, porn and abortion rights

Americans’ support for the death penalty is at a record low, according to a new Gallup poll. The survey also found major differences along party lines when it came to abortion rights, marijuana, and porn.

Fifty-four percent of Americans think the death penalty is morally acceptable, compared to 60% of Americans who believed the same last year, according to a Gallup poll.

Conservatives were more likely than liberals to support the death penalty, with 67% of conservatives thinking it was morally acceptable compared to 37% of liberals.

Overall, on these topics, Gallup reported:

• Smoking marijuana: 70% say it’s morally acceptable, 28% say it’s morally wrong.
• Gay or lesbian relations: 66% say it’s morally acceptable, 32% say it’s morally wrong.
• Abortion: 44% say it’s morally acceptable, 47% say it’s morally wrong.
• Pornography: 36% say it’s morally acceptable, 61% say it’s morally wrong.
• Sex between teenagers: 38% say it’s morally acceptable, 56% say it’s morally wrong.

The remaining percentages in each category answered “Depends,” “Not a moral issue” or “No opinion,” Gallup reported.

The figures offer sharper contrasts between liberals and conservatives.

Eighteen percent of conservatives thought abortion was morally acceptable compared to 70% of liberals. Eighty-four percent of liberals supported gay and lesbian relations while 43% of conservatives support it.

Fifty-six percent of liberals viewed pornography as morally acceptable while 19% of conservatives thought the same. Twenty percent of conservatives thought sex between teenagers was acceptable compared to 60% of liberals.

Smoking marijuana is also supported more by liberals at 84% thinking it’s morally acceptable while 51% of conservatives believe the same.

Gallup first began tracking Americans’ opinions on marijuana legalization since 1969, when only 12% of Americans supported it. Support for legalization reached a record high in 2018, with 66% supporting the measure, according to Gallup.

The Gallup poll is based on phone interviews with a sample of 1,028 adults in all 50 states and the District Columbia between May 1 and 13. The margin of error is 4 percentage points. The survey included 365 conservatives, 390 moderates, and 249 liberals.

This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Which issues most divide Americans? Gallup lists marijuana, porn and abortion rights."