Understanding Public Attitudes Toward Cannabis Legalization: Qualitative Findings From a Statewide Survey
Understanding Public Attitudes Toward Cannabis Legalization: Qualitative Findings From a Statewide Survey
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DOI：
10.1080/10826084.2018.1543327
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发表时间：
2019-04-10
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Agius, Elizabeth
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Resko, Stella;Ellis, Jennifer;Agius, Elizabeth
背景：随着越来越多的州将医用和非医用大麻合法化，美国的大麻政策正在迅速演变。公众舆论已经急剧转向支持大麻合法化。目的：本研究考察了人们支持、反对或不确定大麻合法化的原因，重点关注参与者自己的话。方法：在2016年8月至9月期间，对密歇根州的成年人（N = 2608）进行了一项关于大麻合法化的在线调查。参与者表明他们是否支持、反对或不确定大麻合法化，然后被要求完成一个开放式的回答，解释他们观点的主要原因。然后使用主题分析对开放式回答（n = 2054）进行编码，并使用分析归纳法对编码进行评估。结果：48.1%的人支持大麻合法化，41.9%的人反对大麻合法化，10%的人不确定大麻合法化。与大麻使用相关的危害是反对大麻合法化最常见的理由。那些支持大麻合法化的人最有可能说大麻比其他物质危险性小，而且有医疗效益。他们还指出，大麻合法化的潜在好处包括刑事司法改革和潜在的税收收入。支持和反对大麻合法化的原因因性别、年龄和最近吸食大麻的情况而异。结论/重要性：调查结果突出了公众对大麻合法化态度的细微差别。许多支持大麻合法化的人认识到这些政策变化的一些潜在负面后果。随着大麻使用和销售政策的限制越来越少，了解对大麻的看法非常重要。
Background: Cannabis policy is rapidly evolving in the United States as more states legalize medical and non-medical marijuana. Public opinion has shifted dramatically in favor of marijuana legalization. Objectives: This study examines the reasons that people support, oppose, or are unsure about marijuana legalization, focusing on the participants' own words. Methods: A statewide sample of adults (N = 2,608) in Michigan completed an online survey about marijuana legalization (August and September 2016). Participants indicated whether they supported, opposed, or were unsure about marijuana legalization, and were then prompted to complete an open-ended response explaining the main reasons for their view. Thematic analysis was then used to code the open-ended responses (n = 2,054) and analytic induction was used to evaluate the coding. Results: 48.1% of the sample supported cannabis legalization, 41.9% were opposed to legalization, and 10% were unsure. Harms associated with marijuana use were the most commonly given reasons for opposing legalization. Those who supported legalization were most likely to state that marijuana is less dangerous than other substances and has medical benefits. They also cited criminal justice reform and the potential for tax revenue as potential benefits of legalization. Reasons for supporting and opposing legalization differed based on gender, age, and recent marijuana use. Conclusions/Importance: Findings highlight nuances in public attitudes toward cannabis legalization. Many who support cannabis legalization recognize some potential negative consequences of these policy changes. Understanding views of cannabis is important as policies for marijuana use and sales become less restrictive.