70% of Brits & 66% of the U.S Think Cannabis Prohibition Should End

Public opinion’s voice is only ever bugled through the lucid tones of media editorial.

For many years the stalemate of cannabis law has boiled down to one thing; a political issue.  Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic bow down to lobby pressure and the clamour of the press gang.  A misleading stance is perpetuated that cannabis law is fine how it is because the public demand it so, therefore, votes will be won and lost on the basis of policy.

In recent years, and with the wane of forced opinion due to the advent of the internet, the voice of society can make their own position clear without the need for filter.

A case in point for this new brand of free speech is the two polls that demonstrate that the public of Britain and America are no longer happy with the status quo of cannabis law.

In 2010, the Liberal Democrats for Drug Policy Reform commissioned a poll on the merits of cannabis prohibition Vs regulation.  When this question is posed - and with the true meanings of the terms explained - the dangers of cannabis prohibition become staggeringly evident.  70% of those polled wished for regulation; a report on the poll can be seen here at Encod.org.

Running parallel to this British poll, the U.S. publication The Economist - and a YouGov poll - has also fired a warning shot at prohibition.  66% wished to end the counter-productive laws on cannabis in favour of a regulatory model where cannabis can be taxed, controlled and with relevant potency and health information.  Please view the results here at the Economist. 

These figures are a far cry from what we are led to believe.  Perhaps this is a sure sign that a communal effort is needed to raise awareness.  Make no mistake, this is a battle of attrition, if change is to come about it is going to take every voice to do their part.  Perhaps the most confusing part of these results?  Why did they not receive the press attention deserved given such a significant outcome?