United Kingdom: 63% of Londoners in favour of legalizing recreational cannabis

The British newspaper the Evening Standard recently commissioned a study from the polling firm Survation, in partnership with the think tank Volteface, to gauge public opinion in the United Kingdom regarding the possible legalization of recreational cannabis.

The opinion of residents of the English capital is clear-cut, as 63 % of them believe the United Kingdom should follow Canada’s example and say they support legalization. However, of the 2,037 people surveyed across the four countries that make up the union, 47% are in favor, 30% are against, and 23% have no opinion on the matter.

Among those surveyed, 66% believe that legalization would reduce children’s and young people’s access to cannabis, and 66% also believe that it would curb violence, particularly on the streets.

However, the impact of cannabis on the mental health of particularly vulnerable individuals remains a source of concern for most of those surveyed. In fact, 63% believe that the risks associated with using this substance are reason enough not to legalize it.

Regulating this currently illegal market would bring in approximately 2.5 billion pounds sterling to the British treasury—an argument in favor of legalization that 72% of those surveyed found convincing, especially since that money could be reinvested in public services (68%).

In a context where rates of THC Since the THC content of cannabis on the market is not regulated and not listed on product labels, 68% of those surveyed believe that legalizing cannabis would allow authorities to regulate and limit THC potency.

Liz McCulloch, director at Volteface, said : «This is the first time the public has been asked which arguments—for and against—they find most convincing.»

«The results show that economic incentives are the most important factor, along with health concerns, in limiting the potency of cannabis, which likely reflects concerns about the harmful effects of a very potent form of cannabis known as »skunk.«»

«The link between heavy skunk use and psychosis is a legitimate cause for public concern. Legalization advocates should therefore reassure the public that legal cannabis would be less likely to cause mental illness—not more.»

This is the first survey conducted in the United Kingdom since cannabis was legalized in Canada and in a generally liberal environment regarding cannabis, with 11 U.S. states having now legalized it, Luxembourg having announced its intention to do so, and Spain and the Netherlands maintaining a high degree of tolerance.

The United Kingdom has allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes since November 1, 2018, even though it's still difficult to access due to significant barriers to prescribing.