Independent Grassroots Party Explained
The Independent Grassroots Party was a moderate, democratic socialist political third party in the U.S. state of Minnesota created in 1996 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.[1]
Some political scholars have speculated that Minnesota's marijuana political parties are responsible for the state DFL Party embracing cannabis legalization two decades later.[2]
History
The Youth International Party, formed in 1967 to advance the counterculture of the 1960s, often ran candidates for public office. The Yippie flag is a five-pointed star superimposed with a cannabis leaf.[3] Following the Yippie Party's lead, the Grassroots Party was established in Minnesota, in 1986, as an independent political party that focused on marijuana legalization.[4] [5]
In 1996, the Minnesota Grassroots Party split, forming the Independent Grassroots party. John Birrenbach was the Independent Grassroots presidential candidate and George McMahon was the vice-presidential candidate.[6] Dan Vacek was the Independent Grassroots candidate for United States Representative (Minnesota District 4).[7] [8] In 1998, members of the Independent Grassroots Party established the Legal Marijuana Now political party.[1] [9]
1996 U.S. presidential candidates
Independent Grassroots Party results in presidential elections
1996 results in Minnesota state elections
Results in federal elections
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Joint Ops: Why Minnesota has two pro-marijuana parties . Perfect Duluth Day . May 3, 2018 . Harvieux, Vincent.
- Web site: How Minnesota got to marijuana legalization politically . Labovitch, William . . November 27, 2022 .
- Web site: Collision at Home Plate: The Lives of Pete Rose and Bart Giamatti, p. 78 . . 1991 . Reston, James Jr. . U of Nebraska Press . James Reston Jr. . 0803289642 .
- Marijuana backers keep issue burning / Controversy still alive . . October 1987 . Kahn, Aron . "When we're handing out leaflets, some people will mutter, 'Get a job,' like we're subclass citizens," Grimmer said. "They typecast us. They judge people by the coloration of their thoughts." Grimmer, who holds a doctorate in physics, has a job, thank you. He is a research scientist at 3M. "The reason why we are in our present mess with respect to drug prohibition is that people do not analyze the situation rationally," said Grimmer, who ran for Minnesota attorney general last year under the aegis of the Grass Roots Party. .
- Doobie Brothers: Grassroots Party members grapple with their budding political clout . July 5, 1995 . Twin Cities Reader . Gilyard, Burl.
- Web site: 1996 Presidential Election Results by State . . October 7, 1998 . Bickford, Bob .
- On political fringe, with public funds: Grassroots Party stands on prostitution, adult-child sex push some members away . . July 22, 1996 . Shaffer, David . Dan Vacek, another longtime Grassroots Party activist who also opposes the party's new direction, registered this year to run for Congress under the banner of a splinter group that also has "Grassroots" in its name. "I don't really support any fringe issue at all," said Vacek, whose campaign is focused mainly on legalizing pot. "I am the mainstream alternative. I think we have to end the prohibition on marijuana.".
- Web site: Minnesota Election Results 1996, p. 40 . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library . November 1996 . Minnesota Secretary of State . Minnesota Secretary of State .
- Web site: Q & A with the Legal Marijuana Now Party of Minnesota . The North Star . April 20, 2016 . Brash, Jim . https://web.archive.org/web/20170510221357/http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=12527 . May 10, 2017 . dead .
