Quarter of Singaporean Youth Believe Cannabis Is Not Very Harmful

Singapore is known for its extremely strict stance on cannabis. Under current laws, simply possessing cannabis can result in up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or even caning. Selling, importing, or exporting more than 500 grams of cannabis flowers can lead to the death penalty by hanging.

Despite such harsh drug policies, Singapore is now seeing a shift in public attitudes toward cannabis. Recently, YouGov, a local social research company, conducted a survey of 1,055 residents of the city-state and found that people aged 18 to 24 have a more liberal view of cannabis compared to older citizens. The authors of the study attribute this trend to the influence of social media and pop culture.

According to the survey, 26% of Singaporeans in the 18–24 age group believe cannabis is not very harmful or even harmless. Similarly, 25% of those aged 25–34 and 20% of those aged 35–44 share this view. Among older generations, support for cannabis does not exceed 10%.

Despite these differences, Singaporeans of all ages had similar opinions about other psychoactive substances such as heroin and methamphetamine—these were generally considered harmful by most respondents.