Pubdate: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc. Contact: http://www.theprovince.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Dan Fumano Page: 3 NEW POLL SHOWS 'WIDESPREAD' PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF DISPENSARIES Most Vancouver voters - across age groups, income levels and gender lines - approve of marijuana dispensaries, according to a new opinion poll. About two-thirds of Vancouver voters approve of pot shops in the city, said the study, which was independently conducted by Forum Research of Toronto. Forum president Lorne Bozinoff said Monday the results show "widespread acceptance" for dispensaries in Vancouver. About a quarter of respondents oppose dispensaries in Vancouver, while nine per cent said they don't have an opinion. Support for dispensaries skewed slightly younger, Bozinoff said, but "there's not a huge, huge difference by age ... Even the 65-year-olds, they're on board." Likewise, a majority of Vancouver voters approve of dispensaries, across every income level. "It just proves how widespread this idea is," Bozinoff said. "There are questions about the number (of dispensaries), but just about everybody is fine with the concept." The most significant skew, Bozinoff said, was the increased rate of disapproval of dispensaries among those who voted for Kirk LaPointe and the NPA in Vancouver's 2014 mayoral election. Only 21 per cent of those who voted for Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver in 2014 disapprove of marijuana dispensaries. But roughly half of those who voted for LaPointe in 2014 said they don't approve. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom