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Most Chileans Oppose Legalizing Marijuana
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in Chile are against the legalization of marijuana in their country, according to a poll by Ipsos. 57.5 per cent of respondents would oppose this legislation, while 41.3 per cent of respondents would support it either unconditionally or for medical purposes.
Chile has been traditionally regarded as one of the most conservative countries in the Americas. In May 2004, then Chilean president Ricardo Lagos authorized a law that allowed divorce in the South American country for the first time. Homosexuality was legalized in 1998, but the country does not have an anti-discrimination law pertaining to sexual orientation. Abortion is completely illegal in Chile, and so is the consumption and commercialization of marijuana.
Marco Enríquez-Ominami, an independent presidential candidate who split from the Socialist Party (PS), has recently brought back the topic of legal marijuana to the forefront, saying that he "is a supporter of looking into the matter of legalizing marijuana."
The first round of Chile’s next presidential election is scheduled for Dec. 11.
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose legalizing marijuana?
|
Support |
19.6% |
|
Only for medical purposes |
21.7% |
|
Oppose |
57.5% |
Source: Ipsos
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,016 Chilean adults, conducted from May 18 to Jun. 1, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.