30 percent are in favor of legalizing cannabis

Majority of Germans see drug war critically - Hanfverband announces media campaign

03/11/2014

According to a representative survey by infratest dimap commissioned by the German Hemp Association, a majority of Germans take a critical look at the worldwide war on drugs. More than 80 percent want to facilitate access to cannabis as medicine. Few consider cannabis to be more dangerous than alcohol. The approval of a full legalization of cannabis has risen to 30 percent.

DHV spokesman Georg Wurth: When it comes to cannabis as medicine, a large majority of the population sees a need for action. The federal government should finally pull its head out of the sand and implement improvements for the well-being of the patients. We will probably have to discuss a legalization of cannabis as a stimulant for some years. We did not expect a majority at that point. Our concern with the survey is to point out the trend towards legalization. In the United States, approval for regulation of this market was 17 percent in 1991 and has since steadily increased to more than 50 percent. We expect a similar development also in Germany. In our last survey four years ago, only 19 percent were for cannabis in specialty stores, today it's 30 percent.

In November, we will be launching the largest media campaign on cannabis politics ever seen in Germany with TV and cinema advertisements. The time of legalization in Germany has not come. But it is time for the federal government to allow cities such as Berlin or Frankfurt to try out new ways beyond prohibition on a small scale.

Especially SPD and CDU should give the results to think. A large majority of their followers also want to see their access to cannabis as medicine relieved. In addition, 37 percent of the SPD voters no longer want to prosecute the possession of small amounts of cannabis for self-consumption, and one in four CDU supporters advocates cannabis specialist shops, as in Colorado. That's enough for discussion.

Global drug fight: majority of Germans take critical stock
With regard to the worldwide fight against drugs, the Germans take a critical view: Only just one in five (19 percent) describes the hard action of the states against illegal drugs as very (2 percent) or rather successful (17 percent). Eight out of ten (77 percent), on the other hand, describe the measures they have taken as less (61 percent) or unsuccessful (16 percent). This negative judgment permeates all sections of the population. It also unites the supporters of the parties represented in the Bundestag.

Potential for harm: Two-thirds consider cannabis no more dangerous than alcohol
In Germany, there is a strong awareness that the state's decision on the legality or illegality of intoxicants does not automatically permit a statement about their potential for harm. Requested to compare cannabis in terms of its dangerousness with alcohol as a legally available intoxicant, assume only 20 percent cannabis greater danger.

By contrast, two-thirds of Germans (66 percent) do not consider cannabis to be more dangerous: 46 percent assume damage potential comparable to alcohol. 20% even rate cannabis as less dangerous, including an above-average number of young Germans (18-29 years: 35%, 60 years and older: 11%).

Cannabis: German dissatisfied with relaxation in everyday consumption
Despite doubts about increased potential for harm, Germans are rather distant from ideas on cannabis legalization, following the example of other countries. Both a waiver of the criminal prosecution of possession and the facilitation of a legal and regulated acquisition, at least for the time being, does not have a majority in Germany. However, four out of ten (39 percent) still do not want to be prosecuted for owning low quantities of cannabis for their own consumption. One in three (30 percent) would also welcome the establishment of specialty stores where adults can buy cannabis legally and regulatedly.

A crucial role in the attitude to legalization of cannabis plays the evaluation of the injury potential. For example, Germans, who regard cannabis as a less dangerous intoxicant than alcohol, generally welcome legalization plans. In contrast, rejection is always particularly high when cannabis is considered to be relatively dangerous.

Political majorities for the legalization of possession and for the legal acquisition of cannabis by adults are most likely to be found in the followers of the Greens, while in the ranks of the Union and SPD, the rejection clearly outweighs each.

Cannabis: Majority for easier access in case of illness
While a majority of Germans continue to find it difficult to relax everyday use of cannabis, the demand for easier access for 82 percent of patients is clearly supported. Also in the ranks of Union (76 percent) and SPD (85 percent), majorities clearly support changes in existing regulations in the case of illnesses. Even those who rate cannabis as more dangerous than alcohol are, at 67 percent, mostly open to appropriate adjustments to legal requirements. The study was conducted by infratest dimap on the subject of "Legalization of Cannabis" on behalf of the German Hemp Association (DHV). (Pm)

Picture: NicoLeHe