Most (88%) Ontarians `Support' Creation of Province-Wide Registry of Homes Used as Marijuana Grow-Ops

Toronto, ON - Most (88%) Ontarians `support' the `creation of a province-wide registry of homes used as former marijuana grow-operations' - with a full majority (57%) being `very supportive' - while only one in ten (12%) are `not supportive' (5% not at all/7% not very) of such a policy move, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association. Support for a grow-op registry rises to 93% among homeowners.

Homes and other properties that were once used to manufacture illegal substances (e.g. marijuana and methamphetamine) can pose a number of health and safety risks (e.g. mould, structural damage, unsafe wiring). At present, there is no province-wide registry or other mechanism in place to allow realtors, lawyers, and other professionals to inform potential homebuyers if a property has been designated by a law enforcement authority as a marijuana grow operation (MGO) or clandestine laboratory.

That support for a registry is so high is likely a function of the fact that one quarter (24%) of Ontarians say they have `seen or know of homes in their neighbourhood that have been used as a marijuana grow-operation'. Nearly one in ten (7%) claim to `know someone who has purchased a home that was formerly used as a marijuana grow-operation', and 1% of homeowners `think that they have purchased a home that was formerly used as a marijuana grow-operation'.

Interestingly, one-third (33%) of Ontarians who are likely to purchase a new home in the next two years have seen or known of homes in their neighbourhood that have been used as a marijuana grow-operation, compared to only one in five (21%) who aren't looking to move within the next two years. Adding to this, one in five (16%) who have purchased a house in the last two years know someone who has purchased a home that was used as a grow operation, compared to only one in ten (6%) of those who haven't purchased a new house within the same time frame.

Overall, almost all (93%) Ontarians `agree' (73% strongly/20% somewhat) that `it's important to know ahead of time when purchasing a home if it was formerly used as a marijuana grow-operations', while few `disagree' (2% strongly/5% somewhat) that this knowledge is important.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between October 1st to 8th, 2012 on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association. For the survey, a sample of 1,508 Ontarians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of +/- 2.9 percentage points. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error. For more information on credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website at http://ipsos-na.com/dl/pdf/research/public-affairs/IpsosPA_CredibilityIntervals.pdf

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Sean Simpson
Associate Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
416.572.4474
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

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