Skip to main content

Two-Thirds of Canadians Say Decriminalize Marijuana

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #741)
Drug War Issues

Nearly two out of three Canadians favor decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, according to an Ipsos Reid poll released Sunday. Some 65% of those polled said they favored decriminalization, while only 34% opposed it.

The poll results continue a long-term trend in support of looser marijuana laws in Canada. In 1987, only 39% supported decriminalization. By 1997, that number had climbed to 51% and by 2003, it had climbed to 55%.

Support for decriminalization was strong around the country, but strongest in Atlantic Canada (71%), Ontario (69%), British Columbia (69%), and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (69%). Support was stronger among those with university degrees (71%) and those with some college (71%) than those with only a high school diploma (63%). And more affluent Canadians had the strongest support for decriminalization, at 77%.

The poll results come as the Conservative federal government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper attempts to crack down on marijuana with the omnibus crime bill, C-10, it passed in March. That bill created mandatory minimum sentences for growing as few as six marijuana plants.

A decade ago, before the Conservatives took power, the then ruling Liberals considered decriminalizing marijuana, but the proposal never moved out of Parliament.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

The article begins by saying most Canadians want to decriminalize "possession of small amounts of marijuana" then towards the end it mentions PM Harper's proposed law and mandatory minimum sentences for those growing "as few as six marijuana plants."

I don't like mandatory minimum sentences.  However, do you think the majority of Canadians would be in favor of people legally growing six marijuana plants?  More than six?

Canada has a youth problem and an immigration problem.  It does not need to legalize marijuana possession.  The country has enough nonproductive drug users already as well as way too many colored drug traffickers.  I don't see anything to be gained from legalizing possession.

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 8:21pm Permalink

 

The use of "nonproductive drug users" and "colored drug traffickers" in your response just proves how ignorant people are, including you. Not all people that use drug (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, prescription pills etc.) are non productive. People who are lazy and nonproductive are going to be lazy and nonproductive no matter what. It has nothing to do with the drugs. Second, your generalization of drug dealers as being coloured (Welcome to Canada, don't forget the U) is just plain wrong. I have dealt with dealers of many nationalities, including white people. Generalizations like that, and people like you are what hinders the progress of a nation.

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 9:25pm Permalink

 

The use of "nonproductive drug users" and "colored drug traffickers" in your response just proves how ignorant people are, including you. Not all people that use drug (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, prescription pills etc.) are non productive. People who are lazy and nonproductive are going to be lazy and nonproductive no matter what. It has nothing to do with the drugs. Second, your generalization of drug dealers as being coloured (Welcome to Canada, don't forget the U) is just plain wrong. I have dealt with dealers of many nationalities, including white people. Generalizations like that, and people like you are what hinders the progress of a nation.

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 9:27pm Permalink

the majority of pot smokers are hard working every day people. if i was standing beside you you wouldn't be able to tell me apart from everyone else. the 20% you hear about are the idiots that abuse the drug and are usually involved in other crimes. also our economy could use the the extra cash. IT'S JUST POT! get over your self, the police waste alot of time and money to bust people that are not doing any thing wrong. we just enjoy to smoke a joint on the weekend and i would be pleased to do it legally.

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 7:35am Permalink
Paul Pot (not verified)

Stats like this must mean we're on the slippery slope to legalization. Woo whoo!

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 3:15am Permalink
Shonymous (not verified)

I just can't resist . . . all the dealers and users I know are plain black & white  -  where can I find these colored ones ? - I'd love to move up up the spectrum

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 4:30pm Permalink
keith (not verified)

  The decriminalization of cannabis accomplishes nothing. A much better poll question would be "should cannabis be controlled,regulated and taxed for consumption by adults the same way alcohol is controlled,regulated and taxed for consumption by adults.

  

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 11:19am Permalink
saynotohypocrisy (not verified)

In reply to by keith (not verified)

because large numbers of people won't get a criminal record, which limits their prospects in life. It will particularly help young male blacks and Hispanics who are targeted for marijuana prohibition enforcement efforts.

But unless decriminalization is extended to the right to grow your own, it won't help with the exorbitant price of weed, or with black market related violence and the power of the cartels. So I strongly agree that the question you want asked is the key question to ask. And when it's phrased that way, making clear that legalization means regulation, as with alcohol and tobacco, it seems to now have support of a clear majority, which is a pretty dramatic and historic event.

 It's clearer than ever how extremely unrepresentative Congress is on this issue (only 1% of those rascals willing to support cannabis legalization in public).

Thu, 07/05/2012 - 11:44am Permalink
the virgin terry (not verified)

i know i'm late to the party here. just wanted to point out something that hasn't been previously pointed out, re.  vic kelley, the one who made the asinine and bigoted comments about 'lazy' drug users and 'colored' drug dealers. i clicked on his name and found this little tidbit on his cover page:

'Supporter of personal responsibility, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Advocate for personal privacy and the right of all law-abiding citizens to be left alone.'

what a hypocrite! what an asshole! he's one of these 'conservative' 'small government' advocates who still supports modern civilization's greatest government intrusion into personal privacy, disrupting and destroying lives in the name of one of the dumbest and deceit-filled 'wars' ever. an utter human rights travesty. vic kelley, may u rot in hell for eternity.

Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:05pm Permalink

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.