A general survey of UK professionals has found that of the 72 per cent who smoke cannabis, 32 per cent work in the IT and telecoms industry.

A survey of 1,000 business professionals across the board in the UK, carried out by content syndication developer TongueWag, found that 72 per cent are partial to a spliff. Almost half of these work in the IT and telecoms industries.

Previously considered an industry driven by level-headed and logical thinkers, this revelation speaks volumes about society's lack of understanding regarding the use of cannabis and also its effect or lack of effect on job performance, claimed the TongueWag report.

"The results indicate that our preconceptions about cannabis users can be biased," said James Malach, TongueWag's creative director.

"Obviously, cannabis users work in a variety of professions, but the high proportion of users in the IT sector is considerably higher than we suspected," he said.

With the potential onset of the legalisation of cannabis - or, at the very least, decriminalisation - the results of the survey reveal that those in jobs socially regarded as respectful are frequent smokers.

Participants in the survey were also asked which public figure they would most like to skin up with. Top of the list were Tony Blair, Graham Norton and Prince Harry, while the top three responses for celebrities and politicians who should take up the habit suggested that George Bush, Anne Widdecombe and Prince Philip should lighten up and light up.