Support for legalising cannabis growing among British public, survey finds

Twice as many British adults now support the legalisation of cannabisthan oppose it, according to a poll which reveals a “widening gulf” between public opinion and drug laws.

Forty-eight per cent of voters favour legalising recreational use of marijuana, up five points in the past year, with only 24 per cent objecting, found the YouGov survey.

Support for medicinal cannabis was even stronger, with 77 per cent of respondents saying it should be permitted. A similar proportion said they would consider using cannabis-based treatments if there was strong evidence it would benefit them.

The Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group (CDPRG), which commissioned the poll, said the findings indicated “clear and growing appetite” for a new approach to drug policy in the UK.