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The overwhelming majority of Canadians think that marijuana should be fully decriminalized, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll for Postmedia News and Global TV. From Leader Post:
It found that 66 per cent of people believe that “the possession of marijuana in small amounts” should be “decriminalized so that it no longer carries a penalty or fine.” Another 34 per cent opposed the idea.
Support for decriminalization is strongest in Atlantic Canada (72 per cent) followed by British Columbia, Saskatchewan/Manitoba and Ontario — in all three regions, support for decriminalization runs at 69 per cent.
Back in 1987 only 39 percent of Canadians supported decriminalization, but support for marijuana has grown steadily for decades. The people of Canada are becoming more familiar with marijuana; as a result they have become less hostile towards it.
This mirrors the same general trend in public opinion about marijuana seen in Canada’s neighbor to the South, the United States. In the USA ending marijuana prohibition was a fringe policy idea only 15 years ago, but now marijuana legalization is supported by a majority of adults.
Despite the strong public support for marijuana decriminalization in Canada, don’t expect the national government to improve its marijuana policies anytime soon. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party remain firmly opposed to liberalizing the nation’s marijuana laws.
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A new poll came out today showing that, across the Western World, 13% of people think marijuana *should* be illegal. This poll arrives right on the heels of another poll, from just last week, showing that, across the Western World, 13% of people are either too clueless, or too dense, or both, to hold meaningful opinions on political and cultural issues.
Hey, 23 million Canadians can’t be wrong…
It’s depressing that Canadians are still subject to the corporate boot of Stephen “Tar Sands” Harper. I thought they would have gotten rid of him by now.
Cana-bliss
Am finding it impossible to create links today, yet, according to a huff po report, up now, “Obama Will Seek to Scale Back Drug War in Second Term”.
Is that the sick-sweet odor of desperation I sniff, off in the far distance?
DW
More campaign promises from the Liar-in-Chief. These announcements should come with a warning: Consume at your peril.
Ive always heard that Canadians are really big on “grow your own”. So looking forward to the day I can grow on my patio without worring about having my house confiscated and not haveing to deal with governemnet taxes/regulation.
Its a freaking plant people.
Probably the most ironic part of keeping it illegal is how it makes so much money for both criminals and law enforcement. But it also supports income, a bit more indirectly, for the booze industry and the firearms industry. It’s also a boon for politicians and other professional moralizers.
In short, it keeps America American.
I think support for decriminalization has more to do with mortality than changes in attitudes within any generation, though the latter accounts for some increase in support.
This is pandering of the worst order since large numbers of whites under 30 are undecided between Obama and Romney
another area Worse Than Bush
Jon,
On Current TV tonight Cenk on the Young Turks is interviewing Edward Isaac Dovere that Obama is flirting with ending the drug war in part because of the robust support of Cannabis initiatives in Michigan, Ohio and Colorado: 3 states Obama must win for his re-election. He is attempting to whip votes his way through his Cannabis ‘evolution’ tease
Thanks for your cogent stories on the Seven Leaf plant