Pubdate: Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Source: Westman Journal (CN MB)
Page: 16
Copyright: 2014 Glacier Community Media
Contact:  http://www.westmanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5528
Note: by Journal staff
Referenced: Angus Reid Global survey, August 12, 2014: 
http://mapinc.org/url/hvR1cmJ1

SIX-IN-TEN MANITOBANS SUPPORT LEGALIZING POT, BUT IT'S NOT A TOP
PRIORITY

With the country's eye on marijuana legalization activist Marc Emery's
return to Canada, a recent survey shows that a majority of Canadians
support his cause. However, legalizing pot isn't at the top of their
justice priorities list.

The poll, done by Angus Reid Global, surveyed 1510 Canadian adults. It
showed that 59 per cent think the use of marijuana should be
legalized, with the remaining 41 per cent feel it should remain illegal.

The strongest support for legalization came from British Columbia
(70%), Atlantic Canada (68%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (63%). Even the
provinces that showed the lowest amount of support - Alberta and
Quebec - still showed legalization eeking out keeping the drug
illegal, with 53% of respondents from both provinces vocalizing support.

Nationally, men are slightly more supportive of legalization than
women (62% versus 56%). The older a respondent was, the slightly less
supportive they were to the idea of legalization.

Conservative Party of Canada voters were significantly less likely
than those who voted for the Liberal or New Democratic parties to
support legalization. (43%, 70% and 68% respectively).

Despite the survey showing a high percentage of overall support for
pot legalization, it also shows that many Canadians do not see the
need to change existing laws as an issue the federal government should
focus its attention on first.

When asked to select which crime/safety/justice issues the federal
government should consider a top priority, respondents chose "tougher
penalties for those found guilty of serious crimes" (63%) as first or
second priority, while only 15 per cent chose "legalizing the
possession and use of marijuana".

Other justice issues garnering more support than marijuana
legalization included cracking down on white collar crime (38%),
addressing community crime (34%), addressing terrorism and security
(28%), and increasing the transparency of the RCMP (16%).

Full results from the survey, conducted by Angus Reid, can be found
online at www.angusreidglobal.com .  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D