Liberal Convention 2012: Federal Grits Vote To Legalize Marijuana
First 15-01-2012 10:23 AM EST***|***Updated: 15-01-2012 12:00 AM EST


Seventy-seven per cent of delegates at the Liberals' biennial convention told their party's leadership Sunday morning that they want a future Liberal government to legalize marijuana.
Their interim leader Bob Rae acknowledged the war on drugs hasn’t worked, but told reporters the party's caucus would have to study the implications of the resolution.
"Frankly, the status quo doesn't work and that's what needs to change,” Rae said. “The Liberal Party is saying that the current laws do not work and that we need a new direction.”
“It’s now up to us to take that resolution and see exactly what it will mean in terms of policy, because there are some practical questions that we have to look at,” Rae added, noting in French that one such issue would be how to control the supply of legalized pot.
Rae insisted he was at ease defending the principles of the resolution and that he would work with the membership on the issue in the months and years ahead as the party drafts its next election platform.
“I accept that it is the will of the party that was expressed and as leader we will continue to work together,” Rae said.

During a debate on the floor of the Ottawa convention hall, one Liberal delegate, a police officer, told the crowd Canada’s drug policy was misguided.
“This country does not need more prisons, it needs less criminals,” he said.