Pubdate: Tue, 19 Dec 2017
Source: Fort McMurray Today (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 Fort McMurray Today
Contact: http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/letters
Website: http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1012
Author: Gordon Kent
Page: A5
Poll: http://mapinc.org/url/3Lv3ZUXh

POT PLAN GAINING APPROVAL

Albertans high on province's marijuana plans: Poll

Most Albertans support the provincial government's proposed
regulations for legalized marijuana, according to a new Insights West
poll.

Almost two-thirds of respondents to the online poll agree with the
decision to prevent pot stores from selling alcohol, tobacco or
pharmaceuticals, while 77 per cent favour setting 18 as the legal age
for buying marijuana.

While 60 per cent of Albertans support legalization, up five
percentage points since a national poll done in October 2016, the poll
found a split along party lines.

The move is backed by 71 per cent of NDP voters in the 2015 provincial
election, but opposed by almost 60 per cent of Wildrose and
Conservative voters.

There's also a difference based on age. Legalization, scheduled to
take effect July 1, is supported by 85 per cent of Albertans aged 18
to 34, but that approval drops to 54 per cent of people aged 34 to 54
and 45 per cent of people over 55.

There's little support for legalizing other street drugs such as
ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and fentanyl, which is opposed
by more than 85 per cent of respondents.

"The provincial government appears to have struck the right tone in
dealing with the impending legalization of marijuana," Mario Canseco,
vice-president of public affairs for Insights West, said in a news
release Monday.

The results are based on a survey of 704 adult Albertans done between
Nov. 28 and Dec. 2. The poll is considered accurate within 3.7
percentage points.
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MAP posted-by: Matt