55% Of Western Europeans Support Cannabis Legalization, According to Survey

A recent survey of western European attitudes toward cannabis legalization has found the overwhelming majority are in support of it. However, while attitudes are positive as an aggregate, they are not balanced across all countries surveyed. In the Netherlands, for example, those in support come in at a slight minority at 47%. It should also be noted that the study was industry-funded.

The “for” outweighs the “against”. For a majority of people in eight Western European countries, the legalization of cannabis would be a good thing. 55% of respondents from France, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands are all in favor of it.

While this is admittedly the result of a survey commissioned by the cannabis industry, it is far from being the only research coming out in support of cannabis. Read more about it by downloading our free cannabis news app.

Cannabis Legalization Support Varies by Country

Results vary across the eight countries. In seven of them, a majority of people would like to legalize the plant. Only the inhabitants of the Netherlands are a minority (47%) to support such a reform. In France, 52% are in favor, 27% opposed, and 18% do not decide.

In Germany, as the country prepares to legalize recreational cannabis, support is not overwhelming. “Only one in two Germans supports the legalization of cannabis sales, two in three oppose it. It will be interesting to see how public opinion evolves when we know the details of legalization,” the document adds.

Which Cannabis Legalization Model Has the Most Suport?

The authors of the study also wanted to know which model Europeans prefer. Bottom line: State-regulated stores are by far the most popular (and least controversial) model for cannabis legalization. Home cultivation encounters the strongest opposition.

This rejection of self-cultivation is particularly strong in France and the UK, according to the study. She explains this position by the fact that “the public is worried about the nuisance or disgust of being exposed to the use of cannabis in others”.

What Does the Study Say About the Future of Cannabis Legalization

Finally, the poll tries to predict the future. Without a crystal ball, but by analyzing the latest events. For our country, specialists “do not expect reform on recreational cannabis in the immediate future”. Elsewhere, the results are more encouraging. In the United Kingdom, a country where consumption is already almost decriminalized, support is mounting for legalization. In Italy, a forthcoming reform is “possible”. In Portugal, there is a “dynamic”.

Study Funded by Industry Players

However, all these encouraging results still need to be (slightly) qualified. Indeed, this opinion study was funded by industry players, who are rubbing their hands at the idea of possible legalization in Europe.

The benefactor of this study is the American giant Curaleaf. Coincidentally (or not), its director is very confident about the upcoming legalization of cannabis in Europe. To carry out this survey, he also called on the British firm Hanway Associates.

This does not mean that the results are rigged. On the contrary. The methodology seems serious. It is also signed by Savanta ComRes, one of the largest polling institutes across the Channel. Between mid-February and mid-March, pollsters interviewed 9,000 people, “representative samples” over the age of 18 in each country.

(Featured image by Simon via Unsplash)

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J. Frank Sigerson

J. Frank Sigerson is a business and financial journalist primarily covering crypto, cannabis, crowdfunding, technology, and marketing. He also writes about the movers and shakers in the stock market, especially in biotech, healthcare, mining, and blockchain. In the past, he has shared his thoughts on IT and design, social media, pop culture, food and wine, TV, film, and music. His works have been published in Investing.com, Equities.com, Seeking Alpha, Mogul, Small Cap Network, CNN, Technology.org, among others.