Two-Thirds of Canadians Say Decriminalize Marijuana
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.
[image:1 align:left]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.
Comments
Canada: fix your immigration problem first
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.
In reply to Canada: fix your immigration problem first by Vic Kelley (not verified)
 The use of "nonproductive
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.
In reply to Canada: fix your immigration problem first by Vic Kelley (not verified)
 The use of "nonproductive
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.
In reply to Canada: fix your immigration problem first by Vic Kelley (not verified)
the majority of pot smokers
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.
slippery slope
Stats like this must mean we're on the slippery slope to legalization. Woo whoo!
"colored"
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
Ipso Reid poll
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.
In reply to Ipso Reid poll by keith (not verified)
decriminalization of cannabis is a significant step
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).
i know i'm late to the party
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.
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