Canadian Marijuana Legalization/Decriminalization Could Rake in $7.5B for Govt Coffers – Report

At least $7.5 billion annually could flow into the coffers of the Canadian government should it decide to legalise and decriminalise the use of marijuana in the country, a report said.

Moreover, legalising marijuana or cannabis smoking could create "thousands of new direct and indirect employment opportunities," a policy paper released by the British Columbia Liberals said.

Canada is currently embroiled in a hot debate of whether or not it should legalise and decriminalise marijuana smoking.

Stephen Easton, an economist at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, said the impression of more jobs once marijuana smoking was legalised and decriminalised seemed far remote.

"There might be some jobs created, but I don't think it will be particularly important," Mr Easton was quoted by the National Post.

He noted that current agricultural practices use machines. Thus, there is no need to offer jobs to thousands of people.

A poll carried out by Forum Research Inc showed more than two thirds of the country's population support legalising and decriminalising marijuana use.

Participated by 1,189 Canadians aged 18 years and above, 69 percent gave their approval of decriminalising the act. Some 34 percent said smoking small amounts of marijuana ought not to be criminalised, while 36 percent said to legalise as well as tax marijuana.

Overall, Forum Research Inc, in a statement, said the new figures represented a 65 percent jump since the last time the poll survey was made in November 2012.

Support for decriminalisation and legalisation of smoking marijuana was highest among the youngest of the respondents at 75 percent as well as those from the Baby Boomers (aged 55 to 64) at 72 percent, among the wealthier who earns $60,000 to $100,000 at 74 percent and in BC at 77 percent.

Meanwhile, those who want to slap more penalties to smoking pot came from people in the Generation X (aged 35 to 54 years old) at 16 percent, the least wealthy or those earning less than $20,000 at 21 percent, in Alberta at 22 percent and among New Democrats at 16 percent.