Marshall Burt | |
---|---|
Member of the WyomingHouseofRepresentatives from the 39th district | |
In office January 12, 2021 –January 10, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Stan Blake |
Succeeded by | Cody Wylie |
Personal details | |
Born | Marshall A. Burt May 6,1976 Rochester,Minnesota,U.S. |
Political party | Libertarian |
Spouse | Theresa Burt |
Children | 2 |
Residence | Green River,Wyoming |
Occupation | Railroad inspector,politician |
Signature | |
Website | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Service years | 1998–2007 |
Rank | Staff sergeant |
Battles/wars | |
Marshall A. Burt [1] (born May 6, 1976) is an American politician who served in the Wyoming House of Representatives. A member of the Libertarian Party, Burt represented the 39th district from 2021 to 2023. Burt is the first Libertarian candidate to be elected to a state legislature since Steve Vaillancourt in 2000, and the first third-party candidate elected to the Wyoming Legislature in over 100 years. [2] Burt was defeated by Republican Cody Wylie in the 2022 Wyoming House of Representatives election.
Burt was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served nine years in Okinawa, Japan, and in the Iraq War. [3] He is employed by the Union Pacific Railroad as a track inspector. [2] [4]
In the 2020 Wyoming House of Representatives election, Burt was one of six Wyoming Libertarian candidates running in competitive districts. [5] Burt ran in the 39th district. In a two-way race, Burt defeated his Democratic opponent, longtime incumbent Stan Blake, receiving 53.6% of the vote to Blake's 44.9%. [6] [7]
Burt ran for re-election in the 2022 Wyoming House of Representatives election against Republican Cody Wylie. Burt was defeated by Wylie, receiving 25% of the vote to Wylie's 75%. [8]
In March 2021, Burt alongside a bipartisan group of house members, co–sponsored legislation that legalizes the sale, purchase, possession, and cultivation of cannabis, for any Wyoming citizen over the age of twenty–one. [9] [10] The bill missed its deadline to be considered by the house after a committee voted to approve it, and subsequently died on the house floor. [11]
A bill identical to the March 2021 bill that would legalize cannabis was reintroduced in February 2022. Burt, once again, alongside a bipartisan group of house members, co–sponsored this legislation. [12] [13]
On February 16, 2022, Speaker Eric Barlow recognized the Libertarian Party as a minority party in the House, and Burt became the chairman of the Libertarian caucus. [14] [15]
Burt is a gun-rights supporter and opposes expanding gun control regulations. [17] He opposes all gun registration and instant background checks, and calls for "no permit or residency required for either open or concealed carry [in the state of Wyoming]". [17]
Burt opposes federal and state vaccine mandates, calling them "unconstitutional". [18]
Burt lives in Green River, Wyoming, with his wife, Theresa Burt and his two children. He is a Lutheran. [19]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Libertarian | Marshall Burt | 1,696 | 53.6 | |
Democratic | Stan Blake (incumbent) | 1,421 | 44.9 | |
Write-in | 47 | 1.5 | ||
Total votes | 3,164 | 100% | ||
Libertarian gain from Democratic | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Cody Wylie | 1,763 | 74.4% | +74.4 | |
Libertarian | Marshall Burt (incumbent) | 586 | 24.7% | –28.9 | |
Write-in | 20 | 0.8% | –0.7 | ||
Total votes | 2,369 | 100% | |||
Republican gain from Libertarian |
The United States Marijuana Party is a cannabis political party in the United States founded in 2002 by Loretta Nall specifically to end the war on drugs and to legalize cannabis. Their policies also include other socially libertarian positions. U.S. Marijuana Party candidates in Vermont have run campaigns as recently as 2016. The party has had local chapters in several other states, and has been affiliated with international cannabis political parties.
The use, sale, and possession of cannabis containing over 0.3% THC by dry weight in the United States, despite laws in many states permitting it under various circumstances, is illegal under federal law. As a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, cannabis containing over 0.3% THC by dry weight is considered to have "no accepted medical use" and a high potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence. Cannabis use is illegal for any reason, with the exception of FDA-approved research programs. However, individual states have enacted legislation permitting exemptions for various uses, including medical, industrial, and recreational use.
Cannabis political parties are generally single-issue parties that exist to oppose the laws against cannabis.
In the United States, cannabis is legal in 38 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. At the federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, prohibiting its use for any purpose. Despite this prohibition, federal law is generally not enforced against the possession, cultivation, or intrastate distribution of cannabis in states where such activity has been legalized.
The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
Cannabis is strictly illegal in Wyoming. The state has some of the strictest cannabis laws in the United States. Cannabis itself is not allowed for medical purposes, but a 2015 law allows limited use of non-psychoactive Cannabidiol. An effort was made to place two initiatives on the 2022 ballot, one to legalize medical cannabis, and the other to decriminalize personal use.
Cannabis in Virginia is legal for medical use and recreational use. The first medical marijuana dispensary opened in August 2020, and adult recreational use became legalized in July 2021.
Cannabis in Pennsylvania is illegal for recreational use, but possession of small amounts is decriminalized in several of the state's largest cities. Medical use was legalized in 2016 through a bill passed by the state legislature.
Cannabis in Hawaii is illegal for recreational use, but decriminalized for possession of three grams or less. Medical use was legalized through legislation passed in 2000, making Hawaii the first state to legalize medical use through state legislature rather than through ballot initiative.
Cannabis in New Mexico is legal for recreational use as of June 29, 2021. A bill to legalize recreational use – House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act – was signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 12, 2021. The first licensed sales of recreational cannabis began on April 1, 2022.
Cannabis in Ohio is legal for recreational use. Issue 2, a ballot measure to legalize recreational use, passed by a 57–43 margin on November 7, 2023. Possession and personal cultivation of cannabis became legal on December 7, 2023, with the first licensed sales yet to occur under the law. Prior to legalization, Ohio decriminalized possession of up 100 grams in 1975, with several of the state's major cities later enacting further reforms.
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, also known as the MORE Act, is a proposed piece of U.S. federal legislation that would deschedule cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and enact various criminal and social justice reforms related to cannabis, including the expungement of prior convictions.
The Libertarian Party of Wyoming (LPWY) is the affiliate of the US Libertarian Party (LP) in Wyoming, headquartered in Riverton. As of 2021 it was the third-largest political party in Wyoming by voter registration, with a share of votes cast that has exceeded 5%.
Members of the Wyoming House of Representatives were elected on November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 Wyoming elections.
New Jersey Public Question 1, the Constitutional Amendment To Legalize Marijuana, was a measure that appeared on the November 3, 2020 New Jersey general election ballot. Passing with the largest margin of victory of any statewide cannabis legalization ballot measure in US history, Question 1 legalized the possession and recreational use of cannabis; although planned to go into effect January 1, 2021, implementation was delayed until February 22 due to a dispute between the governor and legislature over penalties for underage cannabis users. Retail sales are also allowed under the amendment.
All 62 members of the Wyoming House of Representatives were elected on November 8, 2022, as part of the 2022 Wyoming elections. Primary elections were held on August 16. Republicans expanded their supermajority, gaining six seats.
House Speaker Barlow allowed Burt to form a caucus for the Libertarian Party during the 2022 session, despite being the body's only member.