Majority Of Australians Support National Weed Legalisation For The First Time Ever

For the first time since the survey began, a majority of Australians support legalising cannabis across the country.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey is held every three years and since its inception it has showed Aussies aren't keen on seeing the rules around ganja relaxed...until now.

The 2019 report was released this week and it revealed that the Legalise camp finally overtook the Keep It Illegal corner with a 41 to 37 per cent majority.

That's nearly double the support compared to the survey done in 2007, which showed only 21 per cent of Aussies support legalisation.

PA

More than 22,274 Australians were quizzed on their 'attitudes and perceptions relating to tobacco, alcohol and other drug use', which helps collect 'information on alcohol and tobacco consumption, and illicit drug use among the general population in Australia'.

The survey delved into some interesting areas when it came to the legalisation debate.

If cannabis was made legal in Australia, 78 per cent of people said they still wouldn't use it and 3 per cent of people said they would increase their use. That shows that a large majority of people don't believe it should be an open market for the drug.

The 2019 poll showed a growing number of people believe cannabis possession shouldn't be a criminal offence (22 to 26 per cent), while most reckon it should only attract a caution.

South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT have all moved to decriminalise cannabis for personal use.

PA

Across the ditch, it seems like New Zealand's referendum on cannabis legalisation could end up with the Yes vote winning.

The big vote will go ahead on September 19 and it looks like it could end up getting the green light, according to a new survey.

The Yes campaign has put out a poll to Kiwis and there was a slight majority who would vote to approve weed legalisation.

The people who would vote 'Yes' numbered 48 per cent of the survey, versus 43 per cent in the 'No' category.

Admittedly, that's a pretty tight margin and that could change in the time between now and mid-September. However, proponents of legalisation believe it's an encouraging statistic that highlights how the public feel at the moment.

Topics: News, Cannabis, Drugs, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie