societal images of cannabis use comparing three countries社会吸食大麻的照片比较三个国家.pdfVIP

Cunningham et al. Harm Reduction Journal 2012, 9:21 /content/9/1/21 BRIEF REPORT Open Access Societal images of Cannabis use: comparing three countries 1* 2 3 4 John A Cunningham , Jan Blomqvist , Anja Koski-Jännes and Kirsimarja Raitasalo Abstract Background: Differences in beliefs about Cannabis were compared between Canada, Sweden and Finland using nationally representative population surveys containing similar items. Findings: Compared to Finnish and Swedish respondents, Canadians were both more likely to have tried Cannabis and to view Cannabis as a less serious problem for society. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the extent to which views about Cannabis can vary. It is possible that views about Cannabis are, at least in part, a social construction influenced by media, social policy and exposure to the drug that varies from country to country. Keywords: Cannabis, Societal beliefs, Epidemiology Background surveys from Finland (n = 740), Sweden (n = 1098), and Peoples’ beliefs about Cannabis appear to be related to Canada (n = 864). Details of the surveys can be found the way the drug is presented in the media and treated elsewhere [2] but briefly, the Canadian survey was a ran- by the legal system [1]. Comparing societal beliefs about dom digit dialing survey with a response rate of 41% and Cannabis between different countries can reveal incon- the Finnish and Swedish surveys were mailed surveys sistencies in the way that this drug is viewed. These with response rates of 37% and