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Attitudes to decriminalization of specific drugs

17 Sep 2012

Q. Would you support decriminalisation of any of the following illegal drugs in Australia:

Yes

No

Don’t know

Cannabis

38%

49%

13%

Ecstasy

14%

78%

7%

Cocaine

13%

80%

7%

Heroin

11%

83%

6%

Amphetamines (such as speed or ice)

10%

83%

7%

For all drugs except cannabis, the vast majority of respondents believed in maintaining prohibitions on the drug.

Support for decriminalisation of cannabis is the strongest at 38% in favour (49% opposed).

Respondents are most strongly against decriminalisation of heroin (83%) and amphetamines (83%).

Male respondents are more likely to favour decriminalisation of cannabis (42%) compared to females (35%).   They are also more likely to favour decriminalisation of ecstasy (17%) compared to female respondents (12%).

By voting intention, the majority of Greens voters were in favour of decriminalizing cannabis (56%).

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