Just more than half of all Canadians feel that marijuana possession should no longer be a criminal offense, according to the results of a November CTV/Angus Reid poll reported in the Canadian Globe and Mail Newspaper.
In addition, an overwhelming 83 percent of respondents said that marijuana should be legal for medical purposes. The public opinion poll surveyed over 1,500 adult Canadians between October 23 and October 28.
“Clearly public opinion is ahead of the Canadian legislators on this issue,” said NORML Executive Director R. Keith Stroup, Esq.
The 51 percent who favored reforming Canada’s laws criminalizing marijuana possession marks a dramatic change in public opinion from just one decade ago. At that time, only 39 percent of Canadians said they favored decriminalization.
“More and more Canadians are becoming aware of the failures of marijuana prohibition and educated to the variety of potential therapeutic uses marijuana offers,” Stroup said.
The poll reported that those over age 55 comprised the only group who said that marijuana possession should remain a crime. Fifty-four percent of respondents between the age of 35 and 54 favored decriminalizing the drug.
For more information, please contact R. Keith Stroup, Esq. of NORML at (202) 483-5500.