The status of support for cannabis regulation in Uruguay 4 years after reform: Evidence from public opinion surveys.
Drug Alcohol Rev
; 37 Suppl 1: S429-S434, 2018 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29230888
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS:
The objective of this study was to measure the public support for marijuana legalisation in Uruguay, both overall and in its provisions, in nearly 4 years after its implementation. DESIGN ANDMETHODS:
Three separate cross-national surveys were conducted in early 2014, late 2015 and mid-2017 with national representative samples of adults. The first study was carried out during the initial months of implementation of the law and used face-to-face interviews (N = 1490); the second survey was conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system (N = 703); and the third study (N = 1515), using face-to-face interviews, was completed just before the implementation of pharmacy sales.RESULTS:
About 60.7% of respondents in 2014 were against marijuana legalisation; in 2017, 54.1% remained opposed to the marijuana law. In 2015, half of the people interviewed (49.9%) supported access to marijuana through self-cultivation, while 38.6% favoured the provision of cannabis clubs and 33.1% agreed with the pharmacy retail provision. Support for medical cannabis was high in 2015, with 74.5% favouring it. DISCUSSION ANDCONCLUSIONS:
This study shows a change in the public opinion toward legalisation of marijuana although most people still remain opposed to the law. However, the data do not provide indication of a significant change in its use. Results suggest that opposition to legalisation may be focused on the pharmacy retail provision.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cannabis
/
Marijuana Smoking
/
Medical Marijuana
/
Legislation, Drug
Type of study:
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Uruguay
Language:
En
Journal:
Drug Alcohol Rev
Journal subject:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States