According to the latest polls from 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll, support for the upcoming referendum to legalise cannabis has steadily declined over the past year.
The latest poll, released in the last week, asks the same question as the one which will be put to voters at the referendum:
Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?
These were the results:
- Support
- Nov 2019 – 43%
- Feb 2020 – 39%
- Jun 2020 – 40%
- Sep 2020 – 35%
- Do not support
- Nov 2019 – 49%
- Feb 2020 – 51%
- Jun 2020 – 49%
- Sep 2020 – 53%
11% of those in the latest poll did not know or refused to answer.
The poll ask 1,008 eligible voters across the country, over the phone and via text.
Unsurprisingly, the younger generation aged between 18-29 were most likely to vote yes to cannabis legalisation. With those over 50 years of age housing the largest demographic to vote no.
Overall, however, the results are quite surprising – given the vast benefits New Zealand would be granted it cannabis was to become legal, for both the medicinal and recreational purposes.
It begs the question – what kind of information of the active supporters are persuading those to change their votes, given the huge increase in cannabis-related search terms out of New Zealand.
After being delayed for a month, the date is now firmly set in stone. On October 17, New Zealander’s will vote on cannabis legalisation.
Many believe the results will be very tight.
