Government-commissioned survey suggests Liberals won’t be hurt by pro-legalization position. Despite the best efforts of the Conservatives to use Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s support for marijuana legalization against him, his position may not be a political liability after all, according to a just-released poll commissioned by the federal Justice Department earlier this year.
A phone survey conducted by Ipsos Reid between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7, 2014, found that 70 per cent of Canadians want to see the current laws at least relaxed — and one in three backs full legalization.
When asked how the government should “deal with” marijuana, the most popular option was full legalization, which was supported by 37 per cent of respondents, followed by 33 per cent who backed the decriminalization of “small amounts of marijuana” by imposing a fine instead of a criminal record.
Support for legalization was highest in British Columbia, at 46 per cent, followed by Atlantic Canada at 41 per cent, with Ontario at 37 per cent, Quebec at 35 per cent, Alberta at 34 per cent and the Prairies at 32 per cent.
Just 14 per cent sided with the status quo, while only 12 per cent wanted to see penalties increased and three per cent either didn’t know or had no response.
Kady O’Malley – CBC News – Jul 31, 2014.
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