Kamloopsians weigh in on Cannabis Act

Jan 12, 2018 | 10:08 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloopsians are marginally in favour of new proposed cannabis legislation.

That according to the results of a survey released Friday by Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative MP Cathy McLeod.

The questions were in response to a riding-wide survey on Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act.

The survey asked constituents, “Are you in favour of Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act?” 836 were in favour and 761 were not.

Constituents also responded to another question, “The bill makes it lawful to consume and possess cannabis at age 18. Is that the right age?” 586 said yes and 1008 no.

McLeod says most people thought the more appropriate age for consumption was 19, the same as it is for alcohol consumption in BC. She noted, “Many were concerned with young people driving under the influence.”

To the final question, “Should all illicit drugs be legalized. Do you agree?” 326 agreed and 1250 — or 77 per cent — disagreed.

“Overwhelmingly, 77 per cent of people rejected the NDP proposal that all illicit drugs should be legalized,” said McLeod. 

McLeod says the mail-out survey received more responses than any other she’s distributed, noting “generally the response was divided with a small margin in favour of the legislation.”

She says the information will be “very useful” for Senator Nancy Greene Raine as the legislation will be debated in the Senate in the coming weeks.