Marijuana Use Not Raising as Many Eyebrows

While more are now tolerant of pot, U.K. survey finds different opinions on other drugs

(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)

TUESDAY, July 15, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- While more people are mellowing out their attitude when it comes to the use of marijuana, they aren't nearly as laid back about other illegal drugs.

A new study by the Economic & Social Research Council in the United Kingdom says attitudes about marijuana have changed considerably over the past two decades. The survey found 41 percent of Britons support legalization of marijuana, compared to 12 percent in 1983.

But only 8 percent believe adults should be free to take any drugs they want. Nine out of 10 of the people surveyed said heroin should remain an illegal drug. The same percentage of people believe the drug ecstasy should remain illegal.

Seven percent of the survey respondents felt that ecstasy is not as dangerous as some people believe it to be, while three-quarters believe that legalizing ecstasy would lead to an increase in addiction.

The survey found that 86 percent of respondents support the use of marijuana as a prescription drug to treat medical problems.

Overall, the young, more educated, professionals, and people living in London tended to be liberal in their attitudes towards marijuana.

The survey included about 1,000 people living in England and Wales and 1,600 in Scotland.

Two-thirds of the 18- to 34-year-old respondents have a friend or family member who has used illegal drugs, half have tried marijuana themselves, and only a third of the people in that age group believe marijuana should remain illegal.

More than half of those in the 18-34 age group accept that using illegal drugs is a normal part of some people's lives.

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