Majority approve of “grow your own” ruling
Most think growing marijuana should be
legal for all
TORONTO
March 16th, 2016 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by
the Forum Poll among 1567 Canadian voters, including 582 who have used
marijuana or cannabis in the past, well more than half approve of the federal
court ruling which struck down the prohibition against medical marijuana users
growing their own (56%). Just more than one third disapprove of this decision
(35%) and one tenth don’t have an opinion (9%). Approval of the ruling is
characteristic of the youngest (67%), the least wealthy (often a proxy for
youth - 60%) and those in mid income groups ($40K to $80K - 60%), in Atlantic
Canada 64%) and in BC (65%), among Liberals (64%) and New Democrats (66%), and
even among one third of Conservatives (36%), among mothers of children under 18
(60%), among those who have used marijuana in the past (73%) and among the best
educated (post grad - 62%).
One half think all Canadians should be
allowed to grow their own
Close to half of Canadian voters agree that
legalized marijuana should include legalizing growing it oneself (48%), while
just more than 4-in-10 don’t agree (42%). One tenth don’t have an opinion
(10%). Once more, agreement with a “grow your own” law is common to the
youngest (59%), males (53%) rather than females (43%), the wealthiest ($100K to
$250K - 53%), in Atlantic Canada (52%) and, paradoxically, in Conservative
dominated Alberta (53%). It is a popular idea with New Democrats (56%) but not
among Conservatives so much (38%) and among the best educated (post grad - 51%)
as well as among past marijuana users (65%).
Between 4-in-10 and one half have used
marijuana
Four-in-ten voters claim to have used
marijuana in the past (41%) and a further one tenth decline to answer (8%), so
it may be that up to one half of voters have ever used cannabis in some form
(49%). Claimed usage is most common to the youngest (57%), males (44%) rather
than females (38%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 51%), in Conservative Alberta
(47%) and in BC, more predictably (47%) and among New Democrats (46%).
“The
federal court decision is popular, especially in the context of medical
marijuana users. It may be that Canadians don’t want to see these vulnerable
patients relying on the corporate marijuana distribution system the government
is building. The most curious findings here are that Alberta, Canada’s bastion
of conservative ideology, is very high on allowing people to grow their own
boo, but is also the province with the highest number of admitted users," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and
founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com
or at (416) 960-9603.
