Cannabis Use More Common Than Smoking in Australia

The latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) has found that the use of cannabis is more common than smoking.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare compiled and released 2019 data on Friday, which surveyed approximately 20,000 individuals aged 14 and above on their attitudes towards drugs.

A recent survey revealed that 20% of respondents support regular use of marijuana, while the proportion of smokers was 15%. As the acceptance of marijuana continues to grow, more Australians are in favor of harsher punishments for tobacco use to reflect the national decline in smoking rates.

Approximately 85% of Australians support stricter enforcement to prohibit the provision of tobacco to minors, while around seven in ten people believe that the use of e-cigarettes should be restricted in public places. 72% of people support the restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes, with a lower approval rate of 61% in the Northern Territory.

At the same time, a record-breaking two-fifths of Australians now support the legalization of marijuana, representing an increase of 16% over the past decade.

In certain areas, including Sydney, the support for the legalization of marijuana is as high as 60%. In Melbourne, 57% of the population believes that the drug should be legalized for personal use, while 47% of Brisbane residents are in favor of its legalization.

These findings follow a growing global trend and support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Approximately 19 states in the United States have already legalized the drug, joining a series of countries including Canada, Spain, and Uruguay.

Jarryd Bartle, an associate lecturer and drug policy advisor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has suggested that reforms in the US and around the world could be influenced by the growing trend towards support for legalizing marijuana in Australia. He stated, "This demonstrates that the legalization model can work here.

The legalization of marijuana has received a significant proportion of votes, indicating a trend of support particularly among young people in Australia. Evidence suggests that legalization will not increase the number of regular marijuana users nor will it encourage those under 18 to use it. These are positive indications for the legalization movement.

Currently, all states and territories have some form of decriminalization, but there are varying degrees in terms of what amount is considered for personal use and the extent of punishment.

In 1987, South Australia became the first state to decriminalize minor cannabis offenses, introducing the option of paying a fine instead of facing criminal charges. However, decriminalization is not the same as legalization.

Approximately 78% of people believe that possessing marijuana for personal use should not be a criminal offense (i.e. decriminalization of drugs), while one-fifth of people support regular marijuana use by adults – a 12% increase from 2010.

Nearly three-quarters of Australian respondents (78%) said they still wouldn't use cannabis even if it were legalized. The Australian Capital Territory, where cannabis has been decriminalized, had the highest interest in trying the drug with approximately 11% of people stating they would try it if legalized, while Tasmania had 7.5%.

The next NDSHS survey is set to begin later this month and will be completed by December 2022. This survey will provide the government with information for policy planning related to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

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