NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A recent Public Domain survey has found that while 84 percent of Bahamians support cannabis legalization for medical use, 56 percent are against its recreational use.
The survey, obtained by Eyewitness News, was conducted as part of the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana’s (BNCM) work to gauge the opinions of residents on cannabis and its related concerns.
It was conducted between November 24 and December 14, with 1,000 respondents across The Bahamas.
Of the respondents questioned, 84 percent believed cannabis should be used for medical purposes and 80 percent indicated they would use it if directed by a doctor.
Fifty-eight percent of respondents said parents should allow their children to take medical cannabis if prescribed, while 23 percent said it is not appropriate for children.
Seventy-nine percent of respondents said individuals who are prescribed cannabis should be required to obtain a medical permit.
Further, 81 percent of respondents indicated that tourists with a medical cannabis permit from their home countries should be allowed to purchase a temporary permit in The Bahamas to use cannabis for “medical or therapeutic” purposes.
However, respondents also largely believed legalization of medical marijuana would lead to drug addictions and people selling their prescriptions, as well as negatively impact young people.
Only one percent of respondents said the move would have a positive impact, decrease illegal use or cut down on recreational use.
The survey outlined how respondents believed legalization and use of cannabis for medical purposes would impact recreational use, with 25 percent saying people would abuse it in some way, four percent saying it would lead to people smoking more and three percent saying the substance would become more available.
The majority of people surveyed, 55 percent, said they do not believe individuals who are prescribed cannabis for medical purposes should be legally permitted to grow plants for personal use, while 40 percent said they should be permitted.
But if individuals are legally permitted to grow cannabis plants for medical purposes, 74 percent of respondents said there should be restrictions on the type and number of plants that can be grown.
Recreational use
Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they believe cannabis should be legalized for adult recreational use, 56 percent disagreed and five percent said they were not sure.
The survey questioned which policy of recreational use would respondents support, of which 25 percent said decriminalization, 48 percent said it should be legal with a license and 20 percent said it should be legal without restrictions.
If recreational use of cannabis is legalized, 49 percent of respondents said the minimum age should be between 18 and 20 years old; 26 percent said the age group should be 21 to 24 years old; and 11 percent said it should be restricted to people over the age of 25.
Sixty-eight percent of respondents said users should be required to obtain a user’s permit for recreational use, while 28 percent disagreed.
Eighty percent of respondents strongly agreed that people should not be allowed to drive while under the influence of cannabis; 78 percent said it should not be allowed in public spaces like schools, beaches or parks; and 86 percent said the substance should not be allowed within a certain distance of schools or churches.
Additionally, 68 percent of those surveyed strongly agreed that the substance should not be allowed at public events such as concerts, sporting events or other activities, while seven percent somewhat agreed, five percent somewhat disagreed and 16 percent strongly disagreed.
When asked whether they believe individuals should be allowed to grow cannabis for personal use, 47 percent of respondents strongly disagreed, seven percent somewhat disagreed, 18 percent somewhat agreed and 25 percent strongly agreed.
If growing cannabis for personal use is allowed, 75 percent of those surveyed agreed there should be restrictions on what types and amounts of cannabis can be grown for personal use.
Those restrictions, according to respondents, should include amounts allowed with a plant and height limit, licensing and monitoring of use and no resale.
Respondents were also asked how often they believe people would use the substance if legalized recreationally and nine percent said it would be used less, 29 percent said it would be used just the same, 27 percent said it would be used more and 30 percent said it would be used much more.
The survey is set to be the basis of the commission’s final report, which is expected to be completed shortly.
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