(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) – Many Canadians believe only adults should be allowed to handle cannabis, according to a poll by SES Research. 77.6 per cent of respondents believe the minimum age to possess marijuana should be 18 years.
In November 2004, the federal government re-introduced a controversial bill that seeks "alternate penalty frameworks" for the possession of small amounts of marijuana. If the bill passes, any person caught with 15 grams of the drug or less would face fines instead of criminal charges.
In July 2002, Canada became the first nation in the world to regulate the consumption of cannabis for medical reasons. In the 2004 federal election, the Marijuana party—which seeks the outright legalization of the substance—received 0.3 per cent of the popular vote.
Yesterday, Marijuana party leader Marc-Boris St-Maurice announced his intention to join the Liberal party.
Polling Data
If marijuana is decriminalized by the government of Canada, do you think the minimum age to possess marijuana should be....
12 years and older
0.6%
16 years and older
5.2%
18 years and older
77.6%
No age given
14.2%
Unsure
2.4%
Source: SES Research
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 Canadian voters, conducted from Jan. 28 to Feb. 2, 2005. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
