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416.960.9603
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More than two thirds support
decriminalization/legalization of marijuana
Trudeau admission unlikely to affect Liberal vote
th
TORONTO, August 24 , 2013 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by
the Forum Poll™ among 1189 Canadians 18 years of age and older, more than
two thirds (69%) supported either decriminalization for small amounts of
marijuana (34%) or outright legalization and taxation (36%), and this represents
an increase since the last time we asked this (November, 2012 - 65% net). Just 1in-7 want the law left as it is (15%), while even fewer want penalties increased
(13%). Very few have no opinion on this measure (3%). Support for
decriminalization/legalization is highest among the youngest (75%) and the
Boomers (55 to 64 - 72%), among the wealthier ($60K to $100K - 74%) and in BC
(77%). Liberal supporters are more likely to be in the pro-pot camp (76%) than
are New Democrats (72%) or especially Conservatives (61%). Interest in
increasing penalties is highest among those in Generation X (35 to 54 - 16%), the
least wealthy (less than $20K - 21%), in Alberta (22%) and among New
Democrats (16%). Interestingly, Conservatives are not much more likely to favour
increased penalties than all Canadians (15%). Groups which are least likely to
support decriminalization/legalization include mid-age Canadians (35 to 44 63%), the least wealthy (less than $20K - 57%), Bloc voters (56%), the least
educated (57%), Protestant Christians (61%), those who describe their ethnicity
as Canadian (64%) and Francophones (65%).
One fifth less likely to vote Liberal after Trudeau admission
One fifth of Canadians say they are less likely to vote Liberal because of Justin
Trudeau's admission about smoking marijuana as an MP (21%), while one
seventh say it will make them more likely to vote for the Liberals (14%). Two
thirds say this will not affect their vote (63%). Those who say they are less likely
to vote Liberal are the oldest (65+ - 30%), the wealthier ($40K to $60K - 25%,
$80K to $100K - 24%), prairie dwellers (24%) and Albertans (31%). Of course,
Conservatives are most likely to say they will be less likely to vote Liberal (47%),
while Liberals and New Democrats are less likely to say this (7% and 14%,
respectively). Those who support full legalization say this will make them more
likely to vote Liberal (22%).
1
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
HIGHLIGHTS:
 More than two thirds (69%)
supported either
decriminalization for small
amounts of marijuana (34%)
or outright legalization and
taxation (36%).
 Support for
decriminalization/legalization
is highest among the
youngest ((75%) and the
Boomers (55 to 64 - 72%),
among the wealthier ($60K
to $100K - 74%) and in BC
(77%).
 Liberal supporters are more
likely to be in the pro-pot
camp (76%) than are New
Democrats (72%) or
especially Conservatives
(61%).
 One fifth of Canadians say
they are less likely to vote
Liberal because of Justin
Trudeau's admission about
smoking marijuana as an MP
(21%), while one seventh say
it will make them more likely
to vote for the Liberals (14%).
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“Justin Trudeau is ahead of the zeitgeist on this issue, and the government's
disapproval of his position is a strength he can play to in the coming months.
Decriminalization or legalization has majority support right across the country,
even among Conservative voters, and there appears to be little downside to this
issue for him,"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.
2
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
HIGHLIGHTS:
 Those who support full
legalization are more likely to
vote Liberal (22%).
 “Justin Trudeau is ahead of
the zeitgeist on this issue,
and the government's
disapproval of his position is
a strength he can play to in
the coming months.
Decriminalization or
legalization has majority
support right across the
country, even among
Conservative voters, and
there appears to be little
downside to this issue for
him,"said Forum Research
President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Lorne Bozinoff, President
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Methodology
The Forum Poll™ was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an
interactive voice response telephone survey of 1,189 randomly selected
Canadians 18 years of age and older. The poll was conducted on August 23rd,
2013.
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/- 3%, 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
3
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TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
Marijuana Decriminalization / Legislation Opinion Trending
[All Respondents]
%
th
August 24 , 2013
th
Nov. 19 , 2012
th
Dec. 13 , 2011
4
Sample
Should be
legalized and
taxed
1189
1849
1160
36
33
40
Should be
decriminalized
for small
amounts
34
32
26
The law
should
be left
as it is
15
17
20
Penalties
should be
increased
Don’t
Know
13
15
11
3
3
2
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Marijuana Decriminalization / Legalization Opinion
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
‘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
It should be legalized and
taxed
It should be
decriminalized for small
amounts
The law should be left as
it is
Penalties should be
increased
Don't know
1189
104
138
222
325
400
562
627
36
43
30
32
39
32
40
31
34
33
33
35
34
35
33
34
15
12
18
13
15
17
14
16
13
11
16
16
9
12
11
14
3
2
3
4
3
5
2
4
Region
%
Sample
It should be legalized and taxed
It should be decriminalized for small
amounts
The law should be left as it is
Penalties should be increased
Don't know
5
Total
Atl
Que
ON
Man/Sask
AB
BC
1189
36
132
35
237
27
388
37
116
35
132
39
184
46
34
35
38
34
35
24
30
15
13
3
16
12
2
19
12
3
15
11
3
12
12
6
13
22
2
8
12
4
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Household Income
1189
<$20
K
111
$2040K
208
$4060K
194
$6080K
155
$80100K
111
$100250K
187
$250
K+
30
36
34
36
31
44
34
36
50
34
23
32
38
31
40
36
22
15
17
17
13
13
11
19
13
13
21
11
16
10
14
7
15
3
5
4
3
2
1
2
1
%
Total
Sample
It should be legalized
and taxed
It should be
decriminalized for
small amounts
The law should be left
as it is
Penalties should be
increased
Don't know
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
Current Federal Party Preference
%
Sample
It should be legalized and taxed
It should be decriminalized for
small amounts
The law should be left as it is
Penalties should be increased
Don't know
Total
Cons
Lib
NDP
Green
Bloc
Other Parties
1189
36
338
32
396
41
249
38
71
41
48
20
43
44
34
30
35
35
36
42
19
15
13
3
20
15
3
13
8
3
10
16
1
14
7
3
21
9
8
14
17
7
Highest Level of Education
1189
Secondary
school or
less
223
Some
college or
university
359
Completed
college or
university
409
Post
graduate
studies
198
36
30
33
39
37
34
27
38
33
33
15
13
3
19
19
4
15
12
3
14
10
3
11
15
4
%
Total
Sample
It should be legalized and
taxed
It should be decriminalized
for small amounts
The law should be left as it is
Penalties should be increased
Don't know
6
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Religion
%
Total
Christian
Protestan
t Christian
Evangelica
l Christian
Catholic
Sample
It should
be
legalized
and taxed
It should
be
decriminal
ized for
small
amounts
The law
should be
left as it is
Penalties
should be
increased
Don't
know
1189
873
333
47
400
Other
Christia
n
93
36
33
31
33
30
34
34
30
29
15
16
19
13
14
3
4
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
Other
None
79
237
46
38
43
39
28
28
34
21
16
7
13
12
18
14
10
16
19
7
2
2
5
3
3
3
Ethnicity
Sample
It should be legalized
and taxed
It should be
decriminalized for
small amounts
The law should be left
as it is
Penalties should be
increased
Don't know
7
Total
Canadian
1189
197
British, Scots,
Irish or Welsh
616
36
33
34
Other European
Other
150
226
34
41
38
31
37
33
29
15
16
15
15
12
13
14
10
9
19
3
6
3
2
2
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Trudeau Admission Outcome
‘Justin Trudeau has admitted smoking marijuana since becoming a Member
of Parliament. How does this affect your likelihood of voting for a Liberal
party candidate in the next Federal election?’
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
[All Respondents]
Age / Gender
%
Total
18-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Male
Female
Sample
It makes you more likely to
vote Liberal
It makes you less likely to
vote Liberal
It has no impact on how plan
to vote
Don't know
1189
104
138
222
325
400
562
627
14
19
11
14
17
8
13
15
21
20
20
20
16
30
22
20
63
59
68
64
65
59
63
62
2
2
1
3
2
3
2
2
Region
%
Total
Atl
Que
ON
Man/Sask
AB
BC
Sample
It makes you more likely to vote Liberal
It makes you less likely to vote Liberal
It has no impact on how plan to vote
Don't know
1189
14
21
63
2
132
17
21
59
3
237
14
18
66
2
388
12
21
66
2
116
18
24
56
3
132
13
31
55
2
184
21
17
59
2
Household Income
1189
<S20
K
111
S2040K
208
S4060K
194
S6080K
155
S80100K
111
S100250K
187
S250
K+
30
14
25
18
10
14
12
11
25
21
17
22
18
25
24
21
16
63
51
58
70
60
64
66
57
2
7
2
3
1
0
2
1
%
Total
Sample
It makes you more likely
to vote Liberal
It makes you less likely to
vote Liberal
It has no impact on how
plan to vote
Don't know
8
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Current Federal Party Preference
%
Sample
It makes you more likely to vote
Liberal
It makes you less likely to vote
Liberal
It has no impact on how plan to
vote
Don't know
Total
Cons
Lib
NDP
Green
Bloc
Other Parties
1189
338
396
249
71
48
43
14
2
22
19
13
6
25
21
47
7
14
9
29
18
63
50
70
65
77
62
48
2
1
2
2
1
2
9
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
Highest Level of Education
%
Sample
It makes you more likely to
vote Liberal
It makes you less likely to
vote Liberal
It has no impact on how
plan to vote
Don't know
9
1189
Secondary
school or
less
223
Some
college or
university
359
Completed
college or
university
409
Post
graduate
studies
198
14
16
14
14
14
21
29
18
21
18
63
50
66
63
67
2
5
2
2
1
Total
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Religion
873
Protestant
Christian
333
Evangelical
Christian
47
400
Other
Christian
93
14
11
12
7
10
14
23
19
21
24
32
46
19
13
10
17
63
63
54
46
70
70
61
62
2
1
2
1
1
3
6
2
%
Total
Christian
Sample
It makes
you
more
likely to
vote
Liberal
It makes
you less
likely to
vote
Liberal
It has no
impact
on how
plan to
vote
Don't
know
1189
Catholic
Other
None
79
237
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
Ethnicity
%
Total
Canadian
Sample
It makes you more likely to
vote Liberal
It makes you less likely to
vote Liberal
It has no impact on how
plan to vote
Don't know
1189
197
British, Scots,
Irish or Welsh
616
14
14
21
10
Other European
Other
150
226
16
11
13
26
20
17
22
63
58
63
72
62
2
3
2
0
4
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Marijuana Approval
%
Total
It should be
legalized and
taxed
Sample
It makes you more likely
to vote Liberal
It makes you less likely to
vote Liberal
It has no impact on how
plan to vote
Don't know
1189
410
It should be
decriminalized
for small
amounts
403
14
22
21
The law
should be
left as it is
Penalties
should be
increased
183
147
12
8
9
10
16
41
43
63
67
72
50
42
2
1
1
1
7
For more information:
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D.
President
Forum Research Inc.
Tel: (416) 960-9603
Fax: (416) 960-9602
E-mail: [email protected]
11
TORONTO
August 24th, 2013
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