- By Jorrit
- 0 comments
8. Public perceptions of cannabis in western society
The legalization of cannabis has seen a strong uprise in the past 20 years all over the world. A recent poll of European citizens showed that 55% support legalization in Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland, which is a contrast to a 2011 EU report that found that 59% of young people said cannabis should remain illegal. The media plays a crucial role in the shift in public perception, with framing of cannabis as a medicinal substance contributing to the pro-legalization viewpoint and a decrease in people seeing cannabis as harmful.