United States Marijuana Party

United States Marijuana Party
Chairperson Nick Apuzzo-CA
William A. Chengelis-CO
Kenneth Peeler-HI
Sheree Krider-KY
Chris Hirsh-MD
Jim Johnson-OR
Tom Johnson-PA
Arthur C. Miller-TX
Robert Hawthorne-UT
John Johnson III-VA
Cindy Spencer-VA
Jakob McElwain-VT
Founded 2002
Ideology Anti-prohibitionism (cannabis),
Civil libertarianism
Political position Big tent
International affiliation Cannabis political parties
Colors Red, white, blue, green
Website
usmjparty.com

The United States Marijuana Party (or 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. The party is active in Vermont, has local chapters in several other states, and is affiliated with international cannabis political parties.

2012 presidential election

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

History

The United States Marijuana Party was started in 2002 by Loretta Nall from Alabama following her misdemeanor arrest for marijuana possession.[2][3][4] Nall was the chairperson of the party until she resigned in 2006 to pursue the Libertarian Party of Alabama's nomination for Governor.[5]

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.[6][7]

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.[8][9]

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.[10][11]

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.[12][13]

Results in federal elections

Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage
2004US Representative 3Edward Forchion4,9141.6%[13]

Vermont

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 of 2018 and was Replaced by Jakob McElwain.[14][15]

Results in Vermont state elections

Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage
2004VT GovernorCris Ericson4,2211.4%[16]
2010VT GovernorCris Ericson1,8190.8%[17]
2012VT GovernorCris Ericson5,5801.9%[18]
2016VT Senator (Caledonia County)Galen Dively, III2,4439.5%[19]

Results in federal elections

Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage
2004US SenatorCris Ericson6,4862.1%[16]
2010US SenatorCris Ericson2,7311.2%[17]
2012US SenatorCris Ericson5,9192.0%[18]
2016US SenatorCris Ericson9,1562.9%[19]

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.[20]

See also

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

State chapters

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