Pubdate: Tue, 05 May 2009
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Cited: Two-Thirds in BC Would Legalize Marijuana to Reduce Violence:
http://www.angusreidstrategies.com/uploads/pages/pdfs/2009.05.01_BCIssues.pdf
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

POLL: MOST FAVOUR LEGAL POT

British Columbians believe legalizing marijuana will reduce the 
criminal violence associated with the drug trade, an Angus Reid 
Strategies / CTV poll released on Friday has found.

Some of the key findings include:

- - Sixty-five per cent would legalize marijuana to reduce violence; 35 
per cent would increase penalties for trafficking;

- - Fifty-one per cent say that lack of enforcement of "soft drug" laws 
lets criminals go free; 49 per cent believe that enforcement makes 
criminals from law-abiding citizens;

- - Thirty-two per cent believe that holding the 2010 Winter Olympics 
is important to them;

- - Thirty-four per cent believe that drivers should pay tolls to fund 
new roads and bridges.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample of 822 
British Columbia adults, nearly two-thirds of respondents (65 per 
cent) would choose to legalize marijuana in order to reduce violence, 
while only 35 per cent believe increased penalties for marijuana 
trafficking is the answer.

Green Party and NDP supporters are most likely to support the 
legalization of marijuana (77 per cent and 74 per cent respectively).

 From April 24 to April 26, 2009 Angus Reid Strategies conducted an 
online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 822 
adult residents of B.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom