Survey: 53% of psychiatrists surveyed are in favor of legalizing cannabis

A survey conducted throughout France, and still ongoing, shows that 53% of psychiatrists are in favor of legalizing cannabis among the 400 professionals questioned.

Léa Leclerc, a psychiatrist and addictologist in charge of addictology units at the Groupement Hospitalier Sud des HCL, within the Service Universitaire d'Addictologie de Lyon, is currently investigating the issue.

«Which is interesting, explains Léa Leclerc, is to look at the reasons they give. Psychiatrists in favor of legalization argue that the current system, based on repression, is unsatisfactory, because it doesn't allow for prevention.»

As for psychiatrists opposed to any legalization, their arguments are based on their «Fear of impacts on health and potential societal damage, such as an increase in violence, road accidents, dropping out of school...».» she explains.

Doctors also point to the fact that minors are more exposed to regular consumption than if it were supervised. They fear that the neurological problems associated with cannabis use will increase, and that this will have an impact on young people's health and their place in society. For these psychiatrists, unregulated cannabis use is also responsible for many school drop-outs and road accidents among young drivers.

Of the 400 respondents, 77% of the psychiatrists surveyed were also in favor of legalizing medical cannabis. The PsyCan survey has already been awarded the «Prix de la meilleure communication orale» at L'Encéphale, the leading French-speaking psychiatry congress, held from January 19 to 21.