Prohibition deters cannabis use

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research recently released a study that proves that keeping cannabis illegal will reduce its use.

The survey of 579 NSW residents 18 – 29 years old found –

1. 56% of males & 49% of females had tried cannabis at some stage.
2. Cannabis use is widespread and increasing.
3. 91% of those presently using cannabis said they would use more if it were legal.
4. 29% of those who have never used cannabis cited the illegality of cannabis as the reason for never using it.
5. 47% of those that have never used cannabis cited dislike of cannabis as their reason for never using it.
6. 41% of those that have never used cannabis cited health concerns as their reason for never using it.
7. 19% of those that have stopped using cannabis cite the illegality of it as the reason for stopping using cannabis.
8. 52% of those that have stopped using cannabis cite dislike of cannabis as the reason for stopping using cannabis.
9. 25% of those that have stopped using cannabis cited health concerns as their reason for stopping using cannabis.
10. The Director of the Bureau, Don Weatherburn, admitted that prohibitation (the illegal status) of cannabis is more effective in limiting drug consumption than many researchers had realised.
11. The Director concluded that making cannabis legal would make cannabis use more widespread.
12. If cannabis were legalised more would use it and existing users would use more to the detriment of their health.

(Source: The Crime & Justice Bulletin “Does Prohibition Deter Cannabis Use” at www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/bocsarl.nsf/pages/cjb58link)