Article content

MARKHAM, Ont. — Stephen Harper says a majority of Canadians agree with his opposition to legalizing marijuana, proving he’s not behind the times on the way forward on pot.

A government opinion poll released one year ago found that more than two-thirds of Canadians wanted the federal government to ease the laws around possession and use of cannabis, with about 14 per cent saying the laws should stay the same.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Stephen Harper says Canadians don't want marijuana legalized, pledges more money for RCMP enforcement Back to video

Harper says changing those laws would reverse what he calls a decline in marijuana usage in Canada. In jurisdictions where marijuana is legal, such as parts of the U.S. and Europe, the drug becomes “more readily available to children, more people become addicted,” and there is a decline in health outcomes, the Conservative leader said Tuesday.

“We just think that’s the wrong direction for society and I don’t think that’s the way most Canadians want to deal with this particular problem.”