title: [Factors forming opnion on marijuana legalization in Poland among group of students from medical and technical college faculty].
abstract: Marijuana is the most popular illegal drug in the world. In 2010 17.6% of polish adult population (age 15-64) and 37.3% of youth (age 17-18) declared use of marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Recent years in Poland brought back public discussion regarding decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. The main goal of the study was to reveal the opinion about legalization of marijuana in Poland among students of medical and technical faculty in correlation with chosen socio-demographic factors, college major, attitude to tobacco smoking, use of drugs and religious practice. Study included 230 students (110 from Medical University of Lodz and 120 from Technical University of Lodz). Women consisted on 56.1% of surveyed and men on 43.9%. Study used audit survey as a research method. Results. 40.4% of students considered marijuana as "soft" drug and in majority (65.7%) are convinced that it is not addictive. The main part of studied group (83%) claimed that marijuana is easily accessible in Poland. The majority of the group (38.75%) was against marijuana legalization, a little bit less (35.2%) approved its legalization in Poland and 26.1% had no opinion. Type of college faculty had not been detected as a factor influencing support for legalization. Important factors influencing positive opinion on legalization was: living in the city, tobacco smoking, socializing with legalization supporters, lack of regular religious practice, drug use. CONCLUSION. Young people's diversified opinion regarding legalization of marijuana in Poland should encourage further discussion. Educational and preventive activities within different social groups are necessary to form a conscious opinion on legalization of marijuana in Poland based on the knowledge of actual scientific facts.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suwała
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerstenkorn
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szewczyk
mesh_terms: D002188:Cannabis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D011639:Public Opinion; D012907:Smoking; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult