Survey finds 55% of Europeans support legal recreational cannabis use

New data published by Hanway Associates indicates that the majority of Europeans support legal, government-regulated marijuana sales to adults over 18.

Of the 9043 adults surveyed, the polling data shows that 55% of them are in support of legal recreational cannabis, 20% were indifferent and the remainder, 25%, were opposed.

In addition, 48% want regulated retail marijuana outlets, 35% favour home growing, and 32% favour social clubs. Surprisingly, home cultivation has the most backlash, with 41% opposing it.

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Luxembourg was the first European country to permit personal marijuana cultivation last year, while Malta was the first country on the continent to officially legalise cannabis.

Furthermore, several European nations have legalised marijuana for particular medicinal uses, while others have decriminalised general use, and some, like France, are now experimenting with these two choices through pilot programmes.

Germany decriminalised medicinal cannabis five years ago. According to research conducted by the Institute for Competition Economics (DICE) at Dusseldorf Heinrich Heine University last year, a completely legal cannabis market might generate €3.4 billion ($3.85 billion) in tax income for Germany. Many industry insiders predict that Germany will be the next country to completely legalise recreational marijuana.

In the United States, the use of marijuana for medical reasons is broadly permitted, with 37 states now allowing it.

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According to a report by the research company Prohibition Partners, the European industry is predicted to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 67.4% from 2021 to reach €3.2 billion ($3.49 billion) by 2025.

Antonio Costanzo, CEO of Curaleaf International who welcomes the findings of this survey, said: “This report makes it evident the majority of Europeans want to see recreational cannabis available in a way that allows adults access to high-quality products that are regulated."

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Joe Bayern, CEO at Curaleaf, said: “This report proves what Curaleaf has been saying for some time now, that Europeans want access to safe, competitively priced and high-quality cannabis that is legal. The next step is for legislation to catch up to consumer demand.

"Thankfully, we see promising action from several governments. Germany’s incoming government committing to legalising recreational cannabis is an inflection point for the market since it represents the largest economy in Europe. Once Germany goes the rest of the continent is likely to follow suit"

[Via: Benzinga]

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter