Cannabis Normalization and Legal Attitudes: The Role of Moral Disengagement in Shaping Attitudes Toward Law and Police

Cannabis use has become widely accepted in many societies, raising questions about whether a behavior that is officially prohibited yet widely tolerated continues to be associated with attitudes toward the law and the police. The present study examined associations between cannabis use, moral disengagement, attitudes toward the law, and trust in the police among 447 young adults recruited through an online convenience sampling strategy. Participants completed a quantitative questionnaire. Results indicated that greater cannabis use was associated with higher moral disengagement, less favorable attitudes toward the law, and lower trust in the police. Moral disengagement mediated the relationship between cannabis use and attitudes toward the law, but not the relationship between cannabis use and trust in the police. These findings highlight moral disengagement as a potential psychological mechanism linking cannabis use with attitudes toward legal rules.