for immediate release two thirds support legalization or ... archives/news releases/4997… ·...
TRANSCRIPT
180 Bloor Street W., #1400
Toronto, ON M5S 2V6
T 416.960.9600
F 416.960.9602
forumresearch.com
1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Two thirds support legalization or decriminalization of pot Support highest in BC, Quebec
Toronto, November 20th, 2012 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among Canadians 18 years of age and older, two thirds (65%) supported either legalization and taxation of marijuana (33%) or decriminalization of small amounts (32%). This represents a slight decrease in those in favour of legalization (from 40%) and increase in those in favour of decriminalization (from 26%) since we polled this in December, 2011.
Just fewer than one fifth think laws should be left as they are (17%), while about one seventh think penalties should be stiffer (15%). Opposition to looser penalties is highest among Conservative Party supporters.
Support for the legalization and taxation of marijuana was highest among Canadians under 35 years old, males, those with annual household incomes over $100K and residents of Ontario and the Atlantic region. Quebeckers, Ontarians, and especially British Columbians, were more likely to say that marijuana should be decriminalized for small amounts.
"Legalization is a smart policy for the Liberal Party to adopt as it plays into their natural strengths and against those of the government. It's an issue many Canadians appear willing to rally around," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at [email protected] or at (416) 960-9603.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Lorne Bozinoff, President
416.960.9603
TORONTO
Nov 20th, 2012
HIGHLIGHTS:
Two thirds (65%) supported
either legalization and
taxation of marijuana (33%)
or decriminalization of small
amounts (32%).
"Legalization is a smart policy
for the Liberal Party to adopt
as it plays into their natural
strengths and against those
of the government. It's an
issue many Canadians appear
willing to rally around," said
Forum Research President, Dr.
Lorne Bozinoff.
180 Bloor Street W., #1400
Toronto, ON M5S 2V6
T 416.960.9600
F 416.960.9602
forumresearch.com
2
Methodology
The Forum Poll™ was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 1,849 randomly selected residents of Canada aged 18 or older. The poll was conducted on November 19th, 2012.
Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/- 2 %, 19 times out of 20. Subsample results will be less accurate. Margins of error for subsample (such as age, gender) results are available at www.forumresearch.com/samplestim.asp
Where appropriate, the data has been statistically weighted to ensure that the sample reflects the actual population according to the latest Census data.
This research is not necessarily predictive of future outcomes, but rather, captures opinion at one point in time. Forum Research conducted this poll as a public service and to demonstrate our survey research capabilities.
With offices across Canada and around the world, 100% Canadian-owned Forum Research is one of the country’s leading survey research firms. This Forum Poll™ and other polls may be found at Forum's poll archive at www.forumresearch.com/polls.asp
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Lorne Bozinoff, President
416.960.9603
TORONTO
Nov 20th, 2012
180 Bloor Street W., #1400
Toronto, ON M5S 2V6
T 416.960.9600
F 416.960.9602
forumresearch.com
3
Marijuana Decriminalization / Legalization Opinion Trending
[All Respondents]
% Sample Should be
legalized and taxed
Should be decriminalized
for small amounts
The law should be left
as it is
Penalties should be increased
Don’t Know
Nov. 19th
, 2012 1849 33 32 17 15 3
Dec. 13th
, 2011 1160 40 26 20 11 2
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Lorne Bozinoff, President
416.960.9603
TORONTO
Nov 20th, 2012
180 Bloor Street W., #1400
Toronto, ON M5S 2V6
T 416.960.9600
F 416.960.9602
forumresearch.com
4
Marijuana Decriminalization / Legalization Opinion
‘How do you think the government should deal with marijuana: legalize and tax it, decriminalize small amounts, leave the law as it is, or increase penalties?’
[All Respondents]
Age / Gender
% Total 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Male Female
Sample 1849 197 230 397 502 523 891 958 It should be legalized and taxed
33 39 30 35 32 29 38 29
It should be decriminalized for small amounts
32 35 27 31 32 32 29 34
The law should be left as it is
17 10 24 16 19 22 16 18
Penalties should be increased
15 13 17 16 16 12 14 15
Don't know 3 3 2 2 2 4 2 4
Region
% Total Atl Que ON Man/Sask AB BC
Sample 1849 129 477 621 150 194 278 It should be legalized and taxed
33 48 27 35 34 29 36
It should be decriminalized for small amounts
32 20 34 32 23 32 36
The law should be left as it is
17 13 19 17 25 19 14
Penalties should be increased
15 13 16 15 16 15 12
Don't know 3 6 4 1 2 5 1
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Lorne Bozinoff, President
416.960.9603
TORONTO
Nov 20th, 2012
180 Bloor Street W., #1400
Toronto, ON M5S 2V6
T 416.960.9600
F 416.960.9602
forumresearch.com
5
Household Income
% Total <$20K $20-40K
$40-60K
$60-80K
$80-100K
$100K+
Sample 1849 217 370 286 228 174 288 It should be legalized and taxed
33 39 31 34 31 34 41
It should be decriminalized for small amounts
32 28 33 34 33 35 28
The law should be left as it is
17 15 19 18 16 17 18
Penalties should be increased
15 13 15 12 19 13 12
Don't know 3 4 2 2 1 1 2
Current Federal Party Preference
% Total Cons Lib NDP Green Bloc Other
Parties
Sample 1849 557 489 459 108 97 66 It should be legalized and taxed
33 24 33 42 41 31 37
It should be decriminalized for small amounts
32 29 31 33 38 38 32
The law should be left as it is
17 25 18 13 5 16 18
Penalties should be increased
15 19 14 11 15 13 13
Don't know 3 2 4 1 2 2 0
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Lorne Bozinoff, President
416.960.9603
TORONTO
Nov 20th, 2012
180 Bloor Street W., #1400
Toronto, ON M5S 2V6
T 416.960.9600
F 416.960.9602
forumresearch.com
6
-30-
For more information: Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. President Forum Research Inc. Tel: (416) 960-9603 Fax: (416) 960-9602 E-mail: [email protected]
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Lorne Bozinoff, President
416.960.9603
TORONTO
Nov 20th, 2012