50% SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA: POLL

Less Of An Age Gap Than On Other Social Issues; Men More Liberal

Half of Canadians want the federal government to decriminalize possession
of marijuana, and support for relaxed laws is not confined to the young.

The new survey comes at a time when Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he
is going to remove simple marijuana possession from the Criminal Code, but
his boss, Prime Minister Jean Chr?tien, isn't sure.

"It certainly says that we are a relatively liberal society on this issue,"
said Toronto pollster Michael Sullivan.

The U.S. has also warned against decriminalization, saying Canada should
get over its "reefer madness" if it doesn't want to face the wrath of its
largest trading partner.

The survey of 1,400 adult Canadians showed 50 per cent either strongly or
somewhat support decriminalization, while 47 per cent are somewhat or
strongly opposed.

The poll was conducted in early November for Maclean's magazine, Global TV
and Southam News by the Strategic Counsel, a Toronto-based polling firm.
The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19
times out of 20.

The survey showed 53 per cent of Canadians under 40 support looser laws,
while 48 per cent of people aged 40 and older want to see marijuana
decriminalized.

Mr. Sullivan said there was less of an age gap than there is on other
social issues, such as gay marriage and gay adoption.

"I guess we should think that marijuana smoking in general started in the
1960s so a lot of people now who are 40 plus are people who may have tried
marijuana in the 60s," he said.

The survey also revealed men are more likely than women to favour relaxed
laws and support is strongest among people with money. Fifty-three per cent
of men said the government should act, compared to 48 per cent of women.

The findings are different than they are for most social issues, in which
women tend to be more liberal than men, Mr. Sullivan said.

Support for looser laws also increased with income. Of those earning more
than $100,000, 59 per cent want marijuana decriminalized. The pollsters
speculated support is driven by education and affordability.

But the pollsters warned the government should proceed with caution because
the results show almost half of Canadians oppose any law changes.

"This isn't 70 or 80 per cent saying let's do it, but it certainly suggests
that this is something that should be vigorously debated and as you get
more information, let's see where people stand on it," said Mr. Sullivan.

The poll results show British Columbia leads the pack of supporters, with
56 per cent in favour. Support in Ontario registered at 51 per cent, while
48 per cent of Albertans and Quebecers reported favouring looser laws.
Support was lowest in Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada, at 46 per cent in
favour.

The Strategic Council did not ask Canadians whether they support
legalization of marijuana. Rather the survey dealt with decriminalization,
which would still make possession illegal, but people caught would be given
a fine akin to a parking ticket rather than saddled with a criminal record.

But Mr. Sullivan suspects many of those surveyed did not distinguish
between decriminalization and legalization.

Mr. Cauchon has rejected legalization, which was recommended by a Senate
committee last summer, saying society still wants some sort of punishment
for marijuana smokers.