Majority
think marijuana dispensaries should be allowed in Toronto
One tenth have dispensary in the neighbourhood
TORONTO March
23rd - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the
Forum Poll™ among 908 Toronto voters, the majority, well more than half, say
marijuana dispensaries should be allowed to operate in Toronto (57%), while
just 3-in-10 think they should not be allowed (30%). About one tenth don’t have
an opinion (13%).
Approval of these dispensaries is
especially common to the youngest (72%), males (62%), the wealthiest ($80K to
$100K - 67%), in the downtown (71%), among Olivia Chow voters from the last
mayoral election (82%), the best educated (64%) and among those who have used
marijuana in the past (79%) and among those who already have a dispensary in
their neighbourhood (75%).
One tenth live in neighbourhoods with dispensaries
One tenth of Toronto voters have
a marijuana dispensary in their neighbourhood (11%), about 4-in-10 know that
they don’t (38%) and the majority (51%) don’t know whether they do or not.
Having a marijuana dispensary in the neighbourhood is especially characteristic
of younger voters (35 to 44 - 14%), among those in low income groups (often a
proxy for youth - 14%), in the downtown (22%), among those who voted for Olivia
Chow (16%) and among those who have used cannabis in the past (17%).
More think these dispensaries legal than not
When asked if these marijuana
dispensaries are legal businesses, the majority do not
know (55%), but among those with a viewpoint, more think them legal (27%) than
think the opposite (18%). Once again, thinking they are legal is characteristic
of the youngest (36%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 34%), in the downtown
(36%), among Chow voters (37%), the best educated (post grad - 30%), those who
have one in the neighbourhood (48%) and those who have used marijuana in the
past (40%).
Close to half have used marijuana
Just fewer than 4-in-10 claim to
have used marijuana in the past (36%) and a further tenth prefer not to answer
(9%), so it may be that as many as close to one half of Toronto voters have
used marijuana (45%). Claimed usage is especially characteristic of the
youngest (52%), mid income groups ($60K to $80K - 47%), downtown (50%) and in
East York (49%), among Chow voters (51%), the least educated (secondary school
or less - 42%) and among those who have a dispensary in their neighbourhood
(56%).
One in twenty may have medical marijuana prescription
One in fifty Toronto voters claim
to have a medical marijuana card or prescription (2%) and a further one in
fifty prefer not to answer rather than saying no (2%), so it may be that as
many as one in twenty five Toronto voters have a dispensation to use cannabis
(4%). This means, in Toronto, there may be between 40,000 and 80,000 medical
marijuana users. Claimed medical users are young, less wealthy and those who
have used it in the past.
“It
appears this is a case of social acceptance leading political and official
acceptance of what used to be considered illegal behaviour. The thought that
stores would openly be selling herb in family neighbourhoods in Toronto would
have been laughable as recently as a year ago," 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.
