MOST WANT MARIJUANA ILLEGAL: SURVEY

Australians have become more conservative over the legalisation of
marijuana, according to a national survey by Morgan Research.

"A clear majority (60 per cent) believe marijuana should remain
'illegal'," pollster Gary Morgan said.

The survey, conducted late last year, also showed the percentage who
wanted to legalise the drug had fallen 2 per cent in 2001, reversing
previous trends.

"The December 2001 poll revealed fewer Australians (31 per cent)
believe cannabis should be made legal now than at any time in the past
eight years," he said.

"Since 1993, the proportion of Australians who believe smoking of
marijuana should be legal had remained steady at 33 per cent until
this year.

"These findings represent a reversal of the general increase in the
number of Australians who say marijuana should be made legal over the
past 25 years," he said.

"I would say this is a result of the high level of public education
campaigns about drug use."

Analysis of the 5,357 responses showed clear splits in opinion along
political, age, sex and education.

A clear majority of Liberal Party supporters (69 per cent) and ALP
supporters (57 per cent) said marijuana should remain illegal.

National Party supporters were the most likely (75 per cent) to oppose
marijuana legalisation.

Australian Democrats supporters were split on the issue.

Thirty-three per cent of Greens supporters said marijuana should
remain illegal compared with 61 per cent who said it should be made
legal.

"Education level is a key point of difference among Australians'
attitudes toward marijuana," Mr Morgan said.

University graduates were the most likely to say marijuana should be
legalised, and those with primary school education the least (42 per
cent compared with 14 per cent).

Men were more in favour of legalising the smoking of marijuana (34 per
cent) than were women (28 per cent) and less likely to say the smoking
of marijuana should remain illegal (58 per cent) than women (62 per
cent).