A majority of Conservative party members want the party’s next leader to completely undo the Liberal government’s marijuana legalization plan, according to the latest figures from the iPolitics CPC Leadership Tracker, powered by Mainstreet Research.

Mainstreet surveyed 1,740 party members from April 11 to 13 and found that 59 per cent of respondents think the “next Conservative government should reverse the legalization of marijuana in Canada,” while 29 per cent do not. Only 10 per cent were unsure. The polling has a margin of error of +/-2.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

“I think it’s good news for Kellie Leitch, who has been outspoken on this particular issue,” Mainstreet pollster Quito Maggi said.

When only looking at party members who have already made up their minds on who they’re choosing for party leader, the numbers climb to two-thirds in support of doing a total 180 on legal weed — with the other third in favour of keeping Canada mellow.

Maggi said that the numbers show card-carrying Conservatives are more dead set against legalization than members of the general population. Previous polling has shown almost seven in 10 Canadians are open to legalization.

“The Conservative party numbers are a little bit more polarized on this issue,” Maggi added. “A clear majority want marijuana re-criminalized if and when the new Conservative leader becomes prime minister.”

Among the “top tier candidates,” Maggi said, “it’s good for Kellie Leitch” and for potential second and third ballot votes, which are “dictated by policy and ideology.”

He said “the downside would be for Bernier, O’Leary and Chong,” who have all said they’re pro-legalization. But because of the number of candidates who have come out in favour of maintaining legal recreational cannabis, he added, “I don’t think it impacts them significantly.”

Leadership hopeful Kevin O’Leary has been outspoken in supporting legalizing marijuana, which would put him squarely against most card-carrying members, according to the polling. He confirmed Wednesday he wouldn’t revisit the legislation as leader.

Other top tier leadership contestants also have suggested they wouldn’t strike down the bill if selected as leader.

Erin O’Toole said he would “not re-criminalize marijuana” because it would be “impossible to put the smoke back in the bong.”

Andrew Scheer also has cautioned that the party should think hard about its approach to legal cannabis when drafting its 2019 platform.

“If this is something that has been legal for a period of time, it’s going to be very difficult to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to make this illegal again,’” he said Sunday on Global.

Maxime Bernier, running a libertarian-style campaign, has said in the past he’s leaning toward supporting legalization, but has yet to actually comment on the Liberals’ new legislation.

Kellie Leitch has called the marijuana legalization plan “dangerous and ill-thought-out” and is using it to stand out from the pack.

“Maxime Bernier and Kevin O’Leary support Justin Trudeau’s reckless plan,” she wrote in a fundraising email to supporters this week. “O’Leary even thinks the government should buy heroin for drug addicts.”

Social conservative Brad Trost also has used the bill to attack other candidates and Wednesday sent out a fundraising letter that said he would “repeal this deeply flawed law.”

“I am tired of politicians who champion common sense conservative values when in opposition, then run up the while flag of surrender when in power,” he said.

Maggi said it would be foolish for candidates to ignore the polling numbers entirely, but added there’s more political risk in flip-flopping on marijuana than staying the course.

“I don’t think it’s a ballot question,” he said. “People aren’t going to make their first choice on this. But it might help them decide who to keep off their ballot or mark as a second choice.”

The iPolitics CPC Leadership Tracker, powered by Mainstreet, will be tracking the Conservative leadership race until members pick the next leader on May 27. For additional information on methodology and to subscribe to in-depth updates, click here.