Image: Smoking joint Licensed by Victoria Buzz

Is Canada 4/20 Friendly? As the federal government prepares to end a 90-plus-year prohibition on pot, a new poll from Angus Reid suggests we are.

The survey from the Angus Reid Institute says nearly seven-in-ten Canadians support marijuana legalization. However, more than half (54%) say they don’t see it as a national priority.

While we aren’t in any rush to legalize, 64% think legalization will do more good than harm in the long run. 41% say are apprehensive about making the drug too readily available and say it should be “legalized, but tightly controlled by government”.

Roughly half of all Canadians think that if pot is legalized, it will be easier for children to get and use marijuana, a consequence experts say would be detrimental to young, still-developing brains.

Marijuana offenses make up more than half of all drug-related arrests, according to Statistics Canada, and roughly 80 per cent of marijuana-related arrests are for simple possession.

When asked what should happen to pot users who have a crime on their records, Canadians were split down the middle on this question, with slightly more than half (51%) saying such records shouldn’t be cleared if marijuana becomes legal.

Two-in-three Canadians say selling marijuana at a provincial liquor store is agreeable. In general, selling pot through government run agencies or specially licensed dispensaries are the most popular options for Canadians.

Around 85% believe tax revenues will go up following legalization of pot, and a study from CIBC suggests sales of legalized marijuana could generate $5 billion in revenue for Canada’s federal and provincial governments.

B.C. residents are the most supportive of legalization, with more than 80% saying to lift the ban, and 27% saying it’s the most important issue facing Canada today.