Quebec more cautious about legalizing cannabis than other provinces

In Canada, the cannabis to be legalized on national holiday namely July 1, 2018, as announced by the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. According to a CROP survey survey of more than 2,500 people, Canadians are very divided on the issue of cannabis legalization, with Quebecers being the most cautious.

Legalizing cannabis: For or against?

 

When we take a look at the graph on the question of legalizing cannabis, we see that the majority of Canadians are in favor, at 54%. If we exclude the province of Quebec, they are at 58%. If we focus only on the results for Quebec, we see that the opposite is true: 54% of Quebecers are opposed to legalizing cannabis.

What are the reasons for opposition to the legalization of cannabis in Quebec?

CROP president Alain Giguère remains astonished by these results, but explains that «this situation is perhaps linked to the fact that the English-speaking provinces of Canada are closer to the situation in the United States, particularly those states that have legalized cannabis. They tell themselves that a joint isn't as bad as all that». If we follow the CROP president's reasoning, the English-speaking Canadian provinces are indeed not far behind. of American states that have legalized cannabis, like Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Vancouver, British Columbia, is a 2-hour drive from Seattle and its recreational cannabis dispensaries. Quebecers, on the other hand, don't have this proximity. Alain Giguère adds that Quebec has been «bombarded with information in the media over the past few months about the potential dangers of cannabis, especially among the youngest. This concern is more pronounced than in English Canada.»

Setting up dispensaries and selling cannabis products

Unsurprisingly, the majority of Quebecers (58%) are opposed to the installation of a cannabis sales outlet in their neighborhood, compared with 31% in favor. In Canada outside Quebec, 39% were in favor. The same results apply to the sale of cannabis-containing products: only 27% were in favor in Quebec, compared with 40% in the other provinces. 

If we focus on those who voted in favor of these facilities, we see that Canadians are divided on where cannabis should be sold. A third want cannabis to be sold in liquor stores. Another third would prefer cannabis to be sold in pharmacies. For now, in accordance with the law, The provinces will decide where to distribute it.

18- to 34-year-olds more in favor of legalization

Young people are the most in favor of this bill, with two-thirds of 18-34 year-olds saying they are in favor of legalizing cannabis. 62% say they are little or not at all worried about this decision. They are also the heaviest users: over 25% of young people have smoked in the last 12 months, with 9% of those over 55.

The negative aspects of legalization

Cannabis legalization worries Canadians (and especially Quebecers) for a variety of reasons.

• In Quebec

• In English-speaking Canada (Ontario, British Columbia...) 

Road accidents top the list of Canadian citizens' concerns about the forthcoming legalization of cannabis. They fear an increase in accidents due to the influence of the substance. 60% of Canadians express this as a fear, and 65% of Quebecers. The result is not entirely different when it comes to underage consumption and the trivialization of dangers: 61% of Quebecers said they feared these negative effects. In fact, they are more inclined to see the negative side of cannabis than the positive, and at 27% said there was nothing positive in the Justin Trudeau government's decision to introduce the bill.

The president of the CROP poll explains that these results won't change the government's decisions. «The election is not tomorrow morning. They'll have time to tackle other issues,» he said.

Mehdi Bautier