U.S. Marijuana Party

Last updated
U.S. Marijuana Party
Chairwoman Sheree Krider (Kentucky)
Founded2002 (2002)
Ideology Cannabis legalisation
Civil libertarianism
National affiliation Legal Marijuana Now
ColorsRed, white, blue, green
Website
usmjparty.com

The U.S. 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.

Contents

History

2012 presidential election

On September 18, 2012, the U.S. Marijuana Party endorsed Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson in the 2012 presidential election. [1]

State activity

Colorado

Wayward Bill Chengelis (1951-2021) William Wayward Bill Chengelis 1951-2021.jpg
Wayward Bill Chengelis (1951-2021)

In Colorado, Wayward Bill Chengelis was U.S. Marijuana Party chairman for many years, until Chengelis' death in 2021. [2] [3]

Illinois

In 2004, Illinois Marijuana Party leader Richard Rawlings ran for U.S. Congress in Illinois' 18th Congressional District as a write-in candidate. Brian Meyer ran as a write-in candidate in the 12th Congressional District in 2004. Rawlings ran again as a Marijuana Party write-in candidate for Congress in 2010. [4] [5]

Massachusetts

The U.S. Marijuana Party was started in 2002 by Loretta Nall from Massachusetts following her misdemeanor arrest for marijuana possession. [6] [7] [8] Nall was the chairwomen of the party until she resigned in 2004 to pursue the Libertarian Party of Alabama's nomination for governor. [9]

Nebraska

In 2015–2016, Zach Boiko, Mark Elworth Jr., and Krystal Gabel collected signatures for Marijuana Party of Nebraska to be officially recognized. In order to make the ballot, petitioners needed 5,397 signatures statewide. The party also must have a certain number of signatures from each of the state's three congressional districts. [10] [11]

In July, 2016, volunteers turned in 9,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State. However, the Secretary of State said that half of the signatures were invalid, falling short of the 5,397 needed. In 2016, the group changed its name to Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party, and organizers began petitioning for 2018 ballot access. [12] [13]

New Jersey

Rastafari cannabis rights activist and businessman Edward Forchion, who founded the Legalize Marijuana Party in 1998 in New Jersey, ran for U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in 2004 as a U.S. Marijuana Party candidate. Forchion got 4,914 votes. [14] [15]

Results in federal elections

YearOfficeCandidatePopular VotesPercentage
2004US Representative 3 Edward Forchion 4,9141.6% [15]

Vermont

Cris Ericson, U.S. Marijuana Party 2010, 2012, and 2016 Governor of Vermont, and United States Senator nominee Cris Ericson.png
Cris Ericson, U.S. Marijuana Party 2010, 2012, and 2016 Governor of Vermont, and United States Senator nominee

Independent candidate Cris Ericson ran for Governor of Vermont in 2002 as a Make Marijuana Legal candidate. In 2004, Ericson ran for Vermont governor and U.S. senator as a Marijuana Party candidate. She went on to compete in 2006, 2008, 2014 and 2016 in Republican Party and Democratic Party primaries, and for multiple state and federal offices as an Independent candidate. Ericson was a U.S. Marijuana Party candidate for U.S. Senator and Governor of Vermont in 2010, 2012, and 2016. Cris Ericson left the marijuana party in January 2018. [16] [17]

Results in gubernatorial elections

YearCandidatePopular VotesPercentage
2004 Cris Ericson 4,2211.4% [18]
2010 Cris Ericson 1,8190.8% [19]
2012 Cris Ericson 5,5801.9% [20]

Results in Vermont state elections

YearOfficeCandidatePopular VotesPercentage
2016VT Senator (Caledonia County)Galen Dively, III2,4439.5% [21]

Results in federal elections

YearOfficeCandidatePopular VotesPercentage
2004US Senator Cris Ericson 6,4862.1% [18]
2010US Senator Cris Ericson 2,7311.2% [19]
2012US Senator Cris Ericson 5,9192.0% [20]
2016US Senator Cris Ericson 9,1562.9% [21]

Washington

In the Washington State House of Representatives District 2b election, in 2014, retired union official Rick Payne was on the August primary ballot as a Marijuana Party candidate. In Washington the top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the general election. Payne received 1,644 votes (9.3%). Defeated by the incumbent, a Republican, and a Libertarian candidate, Payne did not make it into the November general election. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot but seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person's name on the ballot. Depending on electoral law it may be possible to win an election by winning a sufficient number of such write-in votes, which count equally as if the person were formally listed on the ballot.

The Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party (G–LC) is a political third party in the U.S. state of Minnesota created by Oliver Steinberg in 2014 to oppose cannabis prohibition. G–LC is a democratic socialist party with a background branching from the Grassroots Party established in 1986.

Loretta Nall is the founder of the U.S. Marijuana Party, which calls for the legalization of cannabis. She was a write-in candidate for governor of Alabama in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis political parties</span> Political parties advocating cannabis legalization

Cannabis political parties are generally single-issue parties that exist to oppose the laws against cannabis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legalize Marijuana Party</span> New Jersey political party advocating cannabis legalization

The Legalize Marijuana Party is a political third party in the U.S. state of New Jersey established in 1998 by Edward Forchion to protest cannabis prohibition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libertarian Party of Virginia</span> State affiliate of the Libertarian Party

The Libertarian Party of Virginia (LPVA) is the Virginia affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The party was originally founded in 1974 and was dissolved by the State Central Committee on September 11, 2022. Subsequently, the Virginia Libertarians quickly recreated the Libertarian Party of Virginia and received the recognition of the Libertarian National Committee. Some of the disaffected former Libertarians went on to create a new party, the Liberty Party – a party affiliated with the Association of Liberty State Parties.

The Libertarian Party of Nebraska is the Nebraska affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The party is headed by chairperson Chris Childs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States Senate election in Vermont</span>

The 2016 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Vermont, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primaries were held August 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Wyoming</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky De La Fuente</span> American businessman and perennial candidate (born 1954)

Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente Guerra is an American businessman and politician. A perennial candidate, De La Fuente was the Reform Party nominee in the 2016 and 2020 United States presidential elections. He also appeared on his own American Delta Party's presidential ticket in 2016, and on those of the Alliance Party and American Independent Party in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legal Marijuana Now Party</span> American political party advocating cannabis legalization

The Legal Marijuana Now Party (LMN) is a political third party in the United States. The party's platform includes abolishing the Drug Enforcement Administration and legalizing hemp and marijuana. As of 2024, the party has ballot access in Minnesota and Nebraska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the U.S. representative from the state of Vermont from Vermont's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primary elections were held on August 14. Peter Welch, a Democrat won reelection to a seventh term, defeating Republican Anya Tynio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Elworth Jr.</span> American politician (born 1976)

Mark Gerald Elworth Jr. is an American freelance musician, businessman, cannabis rights activist, perennial candidate for public office, and rockhound. Elworth was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Nebraska in 2014 and was the Legal Marijuana Now candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grassroots Party</span> American political party advocating marijuana legalization

The Grassroots Party was a political third party in the United States established in 1986 to oppose drug prohibition. The party shared many of the progressive values of the Farmer–Labor Party but with an emphasis on cannabis/hemp legalization issues, and the organization traced their roots to the Youth International Party of the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cris Ericson</span> American activist and perennial candidate

Cris Ericson is an American marijuana legalization activist and perennial candidate for public office in Vermont. She has unsuccessfully run for the governorship of Vermont nine times and for a seat in the United States Congress eight times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Forchion</span> American activist, actor, and restaurateur (born 1964)

Edward Forchion, also known as NJWeedman, is an American Rastafari cannabis rights and free speech activist, perennial candidate, actor, writer, and restaurateur. He is the founder of the Legalize Marijuana Party. In 2020 he legally changed his name to NJ Weedman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party</span> Nebraska political party advocating cannabis legalization

Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW is a political third party in the U.S. state of Nebraska established in 2016 as the state affiliate of the Legal Marijuana Now Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krystal Gabel</span> American cannabis activist

Krystal Gabel is an American cannabis rights activist, perennial candidate, and writer. Gabel, a candidate for governor of Nebraska in the 2018 election, at age 33 was the youngest of a record number of women who ran for governorships, nationally. In 2020, Gabel ran for Nebraska Public Service Commission in the Republican primary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis political parties of the United States</span> American cannabis political party history

Cannabis political parties of the United States include the Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party, the Legal Marijuana Now Party, and the U.S. Marijuana Party. Also, both the Libertarian Party and the Green Party advocate for the legalization of marijuana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis political parties of Minnesota</span> Minnesota cannabis political party history

Cannabis political parties of Minnesota include the Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party, the Independence Party, and the Legal Marijuana Now! Party. Also, both the Libertarian Party and the Green Party advocate for the legalization of marijuana.

References

  1. "US Marijuana Party Endorsement For The Office Of The President of the United States plus Party Expansion". United States Marijuana Party. September 18, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  2. "Remembering the Life and Times of Wayward Bill: 1951-2021". High Times. August 11, 2021.
  3. "Colorado Cannabis Activist 'Wayward Bill' Passes at 70". CelebStoner. August 8, 2021.
  4. Chang, Andrea (November 12, 2003). "Pot-friendly politics". The Daily Northwestern .
  5. Crapanzano, Christina (March 29, 2010). "Top 10 Alternative Political Movements: U.S. Marijuana Party". Time .
  6. "Calling All Mrs. Robinsons". Fox News Channel. October 24, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  7. "How to attract voters' attention? Cleavage". NBC News. October 25, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  8. United States Marijuana Party (USMJParty) Explains On Marijuana Benefits
  9. Jones, Adam (October 28, 2006). "Candidate talks issues, not good looks". The Tuscaloosa News . The New York Times Company . Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  10. "Activists petition for Marijuana Party of Nebraska". Kearney Hub . July 13, 2015.
  11. Stoddard, Martha (July 23, 2016). "Marijuana party seeks spot on ballot for presidential race". Omaha World-Herald .
  12. "Marijuana Party petition drive fails to result in ballot placement". Lincoln Journal Star . Associated Press. August 5, 2016.
  13. Pluhacek, Zach (September 14, 2016). "Marijuana groups already petitioning for 2018 ballot". Lincoln Journal Star .
  14. Shea, Kevin (April 30, 2016). "NJ Weedman's long, strange trip as marijuana advocate". NJ.com .
  15. 1 2 "Official List Candidate Returns for House of Representatives For November 2004 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey . November 30, 2004.
  16. Secretary of State of Vermont (2002). "Election Results Archive: 2002 Governor General Election". Vermont Elections Database.
  17. Nicks, Denver (October 15, 2014). "America Needs More Crazy Debates Like In Vermont". Time .
  18. 1 2 Secretary of State of Vermont (2004). "Election Results Archive: 2004 General Election". Vermont Elections Database.
  19. 1 2 Secretary of State of Vermont (2010). "Election Results Archive: 2010 General Election". Vermont Elections Database.
  20. 1 2 Secretary of State of Vermont (2012). "Election Results Archive: 2012 General Election". Vermont Elections Database.
  21. 1 2 Secretary of State of Vermont (2016). "Election Results Archive: 2016 General Election". Vermont Elections Database.
  22. Santos, Melissa (July 4, 2014). "2nd Legislative District incumbent faces two primary challengers". The Olympian .

State chapters