{{Short description|American political party advocating cannabis legalization}} {{use mdy dates |date=August 2024}} {{Infobox political party | name = Legal Marijuana Now Party | logo = United States Legal Marijuana Now Party poster design.jpg | abbreviation = LMN | chairperson = Rudy Reyes (2024–present)<br>Krystal Gabel (2021–2023) | founder = John Birrenbach<br>Mark Elworth<br>Krystal Gabel<br>Oliver Steinberg<br>Marty Super<br>Dan Vacek<br>Edward Williams | colorcode = {{party color|Legal Marijuana Now Party}} | foundation = {{Start date and age|1998}} | headquarters = San Diego | newspaper = ''Freedom Gazette'' | predecessor = Independent Grassroots (1996–1997) | ideology = Cannabis legalization | colors = {{Color box|{{party color|Legal Marijuana Now Party}}|border=darkgray}} Green, gold, red | website = {{URL|http://www.legalmarijuananowparty.com/}} | country = United States }} Legal Marijuana Now Party sign assortment, circa 2016—2024|right|thumb
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.<ref name="BlochTeenVogue"/> As of 2026, the party is formally recognized in Minnesota and has ballot access in Nebraska.
The Legal Marijuana Now Party was established in Minnesota in 1998 to oppose marijuana prohibition. In 1996, the Grassroots Party of Minnesota split, with some former members forming the Independent Grassroots Party. By 1998, members of the Independent Grassroots Party formed the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party.<ref name="Joint Ops" /> In the 2010s the party began expansion attempts to other states, gaining presidential election ballot access in Iowa for the 2016 election by petition.<ref name="BallotInIowa16" /> The party continues expansion in the 2020s, gaining ballot access in Nebraska as the Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party in 2021.<ref name="NebraskaCertifiedAssociatedPress" />
==History==
===Background=== {{Main|Grassroots Party|Independent Grassroots Party}}
The Minnesota Grassroots Party was formed in 1986 as a response to Ronald Reagan's war on drugs.<ref name="StarTribune-12April2021">{{cite news |last1=Condon |first1=Patrick |title=Pot activists light up Minnesota ballot |url=https://www.startribune.com/pot-activists-light-up-minnesota-ballot/264118731/ |access-date=27 July 2022 |publisher=Star Tribune |date=21 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412222037/https://www.startribune.com/pot-activists-light-up-minnesota-ballot/264118731/ |archive-date=12 April 2021}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Joint Ops" /> In 1996 the party split, with some former members forming the Independent Grassroots Party for one election cycle.<ref name="Joint Ops" />
===Early Minnesota party (1998–2014)=== In 1998, members of the Independent Grassroots Party formed the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! political party.<ref name="Joint Ops">{{cite web |url=https://www.perfectduluthday.com/2018/05/03/joint-ops-why-minnesota-has-two-pro-marijuana-parties/ |title=Joint Ops: Why Minnesota has two pro-marijuana parties |work=Perfect Duluth Day |date=May 3, 2018 |last=Harvieux |first=Vincent}}</ref> The party's name, according to Yippie Oliver Steinberg, a Grassroots Party founder, is attributed to Dan Vacek saying to him, if you want every vote to be a referendum, every vote to be indisputable evidence that there’s a voter who wants legal marijuana, "then call it the Legal Marijuana Now Party."<ref name="Joint Ops" /><ref name="Q and A with Legal Marijuana Now">{{cite web | url=http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=12527 | title=Q & A with the Legal Marijuana Now Party of Minnesota | work=The North Star | date=April 20, 2016 | author=Brash, Jim | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510221357/http://www.thenorthstar.info/?p=12527 | archive-date=May 10, 2017 | url-status=usurped }}{{primary source inline|date=July 2022}}</ref>
===Expansion to other states=== ====Nebraska expansion==== The Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party petitioned to be recognized as a major political party. To make the ballot, Legal Marijuana NOW Party needed valid signatures equal to at least one-percent of the total votes cast for governor in 2014, or 5,397 signatures statewide.<ref name="Marijuana Party Seeks Ballot">{{cite web | url=http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/marijuana-party-seeks-spot-on-ballot-for-presidential-race/article_663df976-e375-572d-b021-f833196d8626.html | title=Marijuana party seeks spot on ballot for presidential race | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=July 23, 2016 | author=Stoddard, Martha |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312214406/https://omaha.com/news/nebraska/marijuana-party-seeks-spot-on-ballot-for-presidential-race/article_663df976-e375-572d-b021-f833196d8626.html |archive-date= 12 March 2017}} {{subscription required}}</ref> 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, verifying only 4,353 signatures and falling short of the 5,397 needed.<ref name='Petition Denied by Nebraska Secretary'>{{cite web |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/marijuna-party-petition-drive-fails-to-result-in-ballot-placement/article_3a6ed5f8-327f-5e7e-99dd-3af5260c6d83.html |title=Marijuana Party petition drive fails to result in ballot placement |work=Lincoln Journal Star |date=August 5, 2016 |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417183712/https://journalstar.com/news/local/marijuna-party-petition-drive-fails-to-result-in-ballot-placement/article_3a6ed5f8-327f-5e7e-99dd-3af5260c6d83.html |archive-date= 17 April 2022 |url-status=live }} {{subscription required}}</ref> After failing to make it onto Nebraska ballots in 2016, the party began circulating petitions for 2020 ballot access for a Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party in September, 2016.<ref name='Nebraska petitioning for MJ for 2018'>{{cite web |url=http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/marijuana-groups-already-petitioning-for-ballot/article_e94aba10-109c-5821-a69a-c5988e434405.html | title=Marijuana groups already petitioning for 2018 ballot |work=Lincoln Journal Star |date=September 14, 2016 |last=Pluhacek |first=Zach |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916142319/https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/marijuana-groups-already-petitioning-for-ballot/article_e94aba10-109c-5821-a69a-c5988e434405.html |archive-date=16 September 2016}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> The party planned to collect 15,000 signatures for their second attempt at gaining ballot access.<ref name="StarHerald">{{cite web | url=http://www.starherald.com/news/local_news/legalize-marijuana-now-advocates-petition-to-get-pro-marijuana-third/article_2b9ce353-afad-5489-9675-6a1bd849d42e.html |title=Legalize Marijuana Now advocates petition to get pro-marijuana third-party on the ballot| work=Scottsbluff Star Herald |date=May 12, 2017 |last=Jordan |first=Spike |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707231644/https://starherald.com/news/local_news/legalize-marijuana-now-advocates-petition-to-get-pro-marijuana-third/article_2b9ce353-afad-5489-9675-6a1bd849d42e.html |archive-date= 7 July 2022}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
==State party activity== ===Minnesota===
Legal Marijuana Now! Party at the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, April 20, 2016|right|thumb {{Main|Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party}}
In 2014, Dan Vacek ran for Minnesota Attorney General as the Legal Marijuana Now! candidate and got 57,604 votes, qualifying the party to be officially recognized and to receive public funding from the state.<ref name="CityPages">{{cite web | url=http://www.citypages.com/news/reefer-riches-what-minnesota-could-learn-about-recreational-marijuana/435258813 | title=Reefer Riches: What Minnesota could learn about recreational marijuana | work=City Pages | date=July 19, 2017 | author=Du, Susan | access-date=July 19, 2017 | archive-date=July 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721214624/http://www.citypages.com/news/reefer-riches-what-minnesota-could-learn-about-recreational-marijuana/435258813 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! nominated candidates by petition to appear on the ballot for the November 6, 2018 election.<ref name="CityPagesStateFair">{{cite web | url=http://www.citypages.com/news/the-minnesota-state-fairs-weed-activists-are-kindly-waiting-for-you-to-realize-theyre-right/492110051 | title=The Minnesota State Fair's weed activists are kindly waiting for you to realize they're right | work=City Pages | date=August 30, 2018 | author=Jones, Hannah | access-date=August 31, 2018 | archive-date=August 31, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831130727/http://www.citypages.com/news/the-minnesota-state-fairs-weed-activists-are-kindly-waiting-for-you-to-realize-theyre-right/492110051 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Their candidate for State Auditor, Michael Ford, received 5.3% of the vote qualifying the party to be an official major party in the state. This gave Legal Marijuana Now! candidates ballot access without having to petition.<ref name="UofM">{{cite web | url=http://mnadwatch.sjmc.umn.edu/2019/01/15/midterms-boost-influence-of-pro-cannabis-political-parties/ | title=Midterms boost influence of pro-cannabis political parties | work=University of Minnesota | date=January 15, 2019 | author1=Octavio, Miguel | author2=Tarala, Kassidy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024010609/http://mnadwatch.sjmc.umn.edu/2019/01/15/midterms-boost-influence-of-pro-cannabis-political-parties/ |archive-date=24 October 2019}}</ref>
In 2020, the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! candidate for United States Senator extended ballot access for the Minnesota party through 2024 by receiving 190,154 votes, more than any other such third-party candidate in the U.S.<ref name="OConnorBallotpedia">{{cite web | url=https://news.ballotpedia.org/2021/01/29/77-third-party-candidates-received-more-votes-than-the-winners-margin-of-victory-in-2020/ | title=77 third-party candidates received more votes than the winner's margin of victory in 2020 | work=Ballotpedia | date=January 29, 2021 | author=Beaudoin, Dave G.}}</ref> During the 2020 election campaign, Democratic Party leaders said that the Legal Marijuana Now Party made it harder for Democratic candidates to win in Minnesota.<ref name="StarTribuneBierschbach">{{cite web | url=https://www.startribune.com/marijuana-candidates-shake-up-minnesota-races/572985922/ | title=Marijuana candidates shake up Minnesota races | work=Star Tribune | date=November 5, 2020 | author1=Van Berkel, Jessie| author2=Bierschbach, Briana}}</ref> A ''St. Cloud Times'' analysis of votes cast in the 2020 general election in Minnesota found that Legal Marijuana Now! candidates might have helped DFL candidates in swing districts, by pulling a larger number of votes from Republican candidates.<ref name="StCloudTimes">{{cite web | url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2020/11/14/gop-voters-dflers-chose-weed-parties-tight-legislative-races-minnesota/6279832002/ | title=Republican voters choose legal marijuana party candidates in tight legislative races | work=St. Cloud Times | date=November 14, 2020 | author=Hertel, Nora G.}}</ref>
Tim Davis, who was Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party chair at the time, was the party's 2022 State Auditor nominee. To qualify for a share of the state's elections funding intended to help regular Minnesotans run for office, Davis raised $6000 before the July deadline, meeting State requirements to publicly report his fundraising income and campaign expenditures. Davis used the $28,000 Minnesota subsidy to print and distribute pro-cannabis legalization campaign fliers door to door, across the state.<ref name=MNCFB22>{{cite web | url=https://cfb.mn.gov/pdf/camfin/2022_public_subsidy_payments.pdf | title=Campaign finance and public disclosure board releases final public subsidy payment amounts for 2022 election | work=Minnesota Campaign Finance Board | date=December 30, 2022}}</ref> Davis got 87,386 votes in the November 2022 State Auditor race, short of the 5% threshold to major party status needed for extending Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party ballot access through 2026.<ref name=2022ElectionResults>{{cite web|title=2022 General Election Results|url=https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2022/2022-general-election-results/| date=November 2022 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref>
Paula Overby was nominated by Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party, in 2022, to run for U.S. Representative from the 2nd congressional district. Overby, an information technology director, had previously been nominated by Legal Marijuana Now! for the 2nd district, in 2020, after candidate Adam Weeks' untimely death. Overby's platform included marijuana legalization and universal Medicare.<ref name="AM950Radio">{{cite web | url=https://www.am950radio.com/paula-overby-dfl-candidate-for-us-senate/ | title=Paula Overby: DFL candidate for US Senate | work=KTNF | date=July 31, 2020 | author=Johnson, Brett }}</ref><ref name="SunThisWeek">{{cite web | url=https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/community/apple_valley/two-additional-candidates-complicate-2nd-district-race/article_926f1e0a-feb6-11ec-ae55-73ce28b7f988.html | title=Two additional candidates complicate 2nd District race |work=Sun This Week |date=July 8, 2022 |last=Johnson |first=Tad |quote=Overby would have taken the place of Legal Marijuana Now Party 2nd District candidate Adam Weeks in 2020 had a special election been allowed. }}</ref><ref name="Politico">{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/12/midterms-elections-battlegrounds-dakota-county-minnesota-00043599 |title=This Minnesota county will decide one of the most competitive House races | work=Politico |date=July 12, 2022 |quote=Overby's platform of marijuana and 'Medicare for All' may rouse more liberal voters. }}</ref> On October 5, 2022, Overby died during recovery in a hospital following emergency surgery for a heart valve condition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Overby, Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate in 2nd District, dies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/live-updates/paula-overby-marijuana-party-candidate-in-2nd-district-dies/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=October 5, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon stated that Overby's name would remain on the ballot, and the election would go ahead as scheduled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - Office Statement on Congressional District 2 Election |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-the-office/news-room/office-statement-on-congressional-district-2-election/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref> Without remedy for replacing their deceased nominee, under state law, Legal Marijuana Now! Party encouraged supporters to cast their votes for Overby. The dead candidate got 10,728 votes in the race.<ref name="PatchDeadCandidate">{{cite web | url=https://patch.com/minnesota/eagan/dead-candidate-won-nearly-11k-votes-mn-unofficial-results-show | title=Dead Candidate Won Nearly 11K Votes In MN, Unofficial Results Show | work=Patch Media | date=November 9, 2022 | author=Bornhoft, William }}</ref>
Scholars have credited the work of Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! with motivating the state Democratic Party to prioritize cannabis legalization, in 2023.<ref name="Labovitch">{{cite web | url=https://www.startribune.com/how-minnesota-got-to-marijuana-legalization-politically/600230521/ | title=How Minnesota got to marijuana legalization politically | author=Labovitch, William | work=Star Tribune | date=November 27, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="JBrooks">{{cite web | url=https://www.startribune.com/legal-marijuana-yesterday/600273605/ | title=After law, what's next for state's pot parties? When you fight for a cause, sometimes you win. | author=Brooks, Jennifer | work=Star Tribune | date=May 10, 2023 }}</ref> In 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Legal Marijuana Now! no longer qualified for major party ballot access under a 2023 law passed by the Minnesota Legislature, and LMNP candidates would be required to petition during the two week filing window in May. Edina, Minnesota author Anthony Walsh, who had launched an independent LMNP campaign for United States Representative a year earlier, was denied by Minnesota Secretary of State Simon for not having the 1,000 signatures needed by June 4, so Walsh instead ran a 2024 write-in campaign for Congress in CD-3.<ref name="lmn-demoted">{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Dana |title=Legal Marijuana Now Party demoted from major party status in Minnesota Supreme Court decision |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/05/10/legalize-marijuana-now-party-status-minnesota-supreme-court |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=MPR News |date=May 10, 2024}}</ref><ref name="StarTribune24May11">{{cite web | url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-supreme-court-legal-marijuana-now-failed-to-meet-requirements-to-remain-a-major-party/600365045/ | title=Minnesota Supreme Court: Legal Marijuana Now failed to meet requirements to remain a major party - The LMN Party could qualify as a third party in the state but will lose major party ballot access in 2024. | work=Star Tribune | date=May 11, 2024 | author=Bierschbach, Briana }}</ref>
===Nebraska=== Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW supporter with cannabis peace flag at rally in Omaha, April 20, 2018|right|thumb {{Main|Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party}}
On April 21, 2021, Legal Marijuana NOW gained official recognition as a state political party in Nebraska, earning the party ballot access for their candidates, and allowing Legal Marijuana NOW Party to register voters.<ref name="NebraskaCertifiedAssociatedPress">{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-nebraska-government-and-politics-e3d973afccfe0e7990373ded0e3ac28f | title='Legal Marijuana NOW' now recognized as a party in Nebraska | work=Associated Press | date=April 21, 2021}}</ref>
Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party ran more candidates for statewide offices, in 2022, than the Nebraska Democratic Party recruited.<ref name="NebraskaExaminer">{{cite web|url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/16/2022-campaign-shows-nebraska-has-two-weak-political-parties/ |title=2022 campaign shows Nebraska has two weak political parties |date=March 16, 2022 |work=Nebraska Examiner |author=Swanson, Ian }}</ref> Larry Bolinger was nominated by Legal Marijuana NOW to run for Nebraska Attorney General in 2022. Bolinger, who previously had run for a seat on the Alliance Planning Commission, focused his campaign on legalization of marijuana and expanding drug courts.<ref name="WaltonJournalStar">{{cite web|url=https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/legal-marijuana-now-party-supports-attorney-general-candidate/article_ab09def4-6ad9-51ea-998d-064d8838d5ad.html |title=Legal Marijuana Now Party supports attorney general candidate |date=July 12, 2021 |work=Lincoln Journal Star |author=Walton, Don | quote=Bolinger received 3,389 votes in the 2020 Republican congressional primary race. The newly formed Legal Marijuana Now Party qualified earlier this year for ballot access in Nebraska.}}</ref><ref name="NorthPlattePost">{{cite web|url=https://northplattepost.com/posts/f80478d7-54d3-471f-b128-c21c44cfc319 |title=Legal Marijuana Now chairman to run for Nebraska AG |date=July 15, 2021 |work=North Platte Post |author=Carlson, Scott | quote=At age 52, Bolinger earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, majoring in Political Science and Minor in Criminology with a concentration in government affairs and civic engagement. Bolinger has served on several local commissions, including the Alliance Planning Commission.}}</ref>
In the 2022 race, Bolinger received 188,648 votes, more than 30 percent, the highest percentage for a statewide Nebraska candidate running outside the two major parties in 86 years, when independent George Norris was reelected to U.S. Senate, in 1936.<ref name=NEhighestSince1936>{{cite web|url=https://ballot-access.org/2023/01/24/legal-marijuana-now-candidate-in-2022-polled-highest-share-of-vote-in-a-statewide-nebraska-race-for-a-non-major-party-nominee-since-1936/ |title=Legal Marijuana Now Candidate in 2022 Polled Highest Share of Vote in a Statewide Nebraska Race for a Non-Major Party Nominee Since 1936 |date=January 24, 2023 |work=Ballot Access News | author=Winger, Richard}}</ref> Bolinger, who was one of the top three independent and third party vote-getters in the U.S. in 2022, held the Nebraska record until Dan Osborn received 46.5% for United States Senator, in 2024.<ref name=2022ThirdPartyTop3>{{cite web|url=https://ballot-access.org/2022/11/16/two-statewide-minor-party-candidates-exceeded-30-of-the-vote-in-november-2022/ |title=Three Statewide Minor Party Candidates Exceeded 30% of the Vote in November 2022 |date=November 16, 2022 |work=Ballot Access News | author=Winger, Richard}}</ref>
Nebraska LMNP held a U.S. Senate primary on May 14, 2024, between Kerry Eddy and Kenneth Peterson. Eddy, the winner of the primary, withdrew from the race in July and endorsed independent candidate Osborn over anti-cannabis incumbent Republican senator Deb Fischer.<ref name="NorthPlatteTelegraph">{{cite web |url=https://nptelegraph.com/news/local/education/dan-osborn-us-senate-deb-fischer/article_72ee9fc2-e70f-11ee-bae0-5fc02021e5f3.html |title=Osborn bucks Democrats, GOP in independent Senate bid against Fischer |date=March 20, 2024 |work=North Platte Telegraph |author=von Kampen, Todd }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanderford |first=Aaron |date=2024-07-30 |title=Kerry Eddy leaves Nebraska’s U.S. Senate race, endorses Osborn over Fischer • Nebraska Examiner |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/30/kerry-eddy-leaves-nebraskas-u-s-senate-race-endorses-osborn-over-fischer/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Nebraska Examiner |language=en-US}}</ref> No LMNP presidential candidates were recognized for the 2024 Nebraska primaries by Secretary of State Bob Evnen, despite the party being ballot qualified in Minnesota, which had held their presidential primary in March. At an online meeting of Nebraska party officers including Mark Elworth Jr. held in June, independent presidential candidate Cornel West was endorsed for 2024 Nebraska ballots.<ref name="KOLNnews">{{cite web |url=https://www.1011now.com/2024/02/28/presidential-candidates-nebraskas-primary-ballot-announced/ |title=Presidential candidates for Nebraska's primary ballot announced |date=February 28, 2024 |work=KOLN |author=1011 NOW }}</ref><ref name="JordanEvansJuly15">{{cite web | url=https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2024/07/legal-marijuana-now-party-of-nebraska-endorses-presidential-bid-of-cornel-west-and-melina-abdullah/ | title=Legal Marijuana NOW! Party of Nebraska Endorses Presidential Bid of Cornel West and Melina Abdullah | author=Evans, Jordan Willow | work=Independent Political Report | date=July 15, 2024 }}</ref>
In 2025, Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party surpassed 10,000 registered party voters, giving LMNP candidates Nebraskan ballot access indefinitely.<ref name=Dec2025BAN>{{cite web | url=https://ballot-access.org/2025/12/02/legal-marijuana-now-party-attains-enough-registrants-so-as-to-remain-on-ballot-even-if-it-doesnt-meet-the-vote-test/ | title=Legal Marijuana Now Party Attains Enough Registrants So As to Remain on Ballot Even if it Doesn’t Meet the Vote Test | work=Ballot Access News | date=December 2, 2025 | author=Winger, Richard }}</ref><ref name=Dec2025IPR>{{cite web | url=https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2025/12/nebraska-legal-marijuana-now-party-reports-more-than-10000-registered-members-names-new-state-chair/ | title=Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party Reports More Than 10,000 Registered Members, Names New State Chair | work=Independent Political Report | date=December 3, 2025 | author=Evans, Jordan Willow }}</ref>
==U.S. presidential candidates== ===2016–2020=== In 2016, Legal Marijuana Now placed their presidential candidates, Dan Vacek and Mark Elworth, on the ballot in two states, Iowa<ref name="BallotInIowa16">{{cite web | url=http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/politics_and_administration/article_43e6ae44-6b12-11e6-aaca-276ee46b4f50.html | title=Weekly politics wrap-up: Ballot access in Iowa | work=Iowa State Daily | date=August 25, 2016 | author=Hanson, Alex | access-date=September 8, 2016 | archive-date=September 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915140707/http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/politics_and_administration/article_43e6ae44-6b12-11e6-aaca-276ee46b4f50.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> and Minnesota,<ref name="PresidentialChoices16">{{cite web | url=http://www.twincities.com/2016/08/23/stassen-berger-minnesota-minor-party-choices-donald-trump-hillary-clinton/ | title=Don't like Trump or Clinton? You have choices | work=Pioneer Press | date=August 24, 2016 | author=Stassen-Berger, Rachel E.}}</ref> and as a write-in candidate elsewhere. Vacek finished tenth out of 31 candidates for president nationwide.<ref name="2016PresidentialResults"/>
California archeologist Rudy Reyes was nominated by the Legal Marijuana Now Party, in 2020, to run for Vice-president of the United States, but the campaign was postponed until 2024.<ref name="ThirdPartyVP">{{cite web | url=https://thirdpartysecondbananas.blogspot.com/2019/07/rudy-reyes-2020-vp-legal-marijuana-now_23.html | title=Vice Presidential Candidates from Third Parties in the United States: Rudy Reyes, 2020 VP Legal Marijuana Now Party | work=Third Party Second Bananas | date=July 23, 2019 }}</ref>
===2024 U.S. presidential elections=== The Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! primary was held on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Twenty Minnesota presidential delegates to the national LMNP convention were awarded proportionally by the primary results, at the state party convention in Caledonia held on May 8.<ref name="EvansIndependentReportJuly8">{{cite web | url=https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2024/07/legal-marijuana-now-party-of-minnesota-nominates-dennis-schuller-and-rudy-reyes-as-presidential-ticket/ | title=Legal Marijuana NOW! Party of Minnesota Nominates Dennis Schuller and Rudy Reyes as Presidential Ticket | author=Evans, Jordan Willow | work=Independent Political Report | date=July 8, 2024 }}</ref>
====2024 Minnesota presidential primary==== {{main|2024 Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now presidential primary}} {| class="wikitable sortable tpl-blanktable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |+ Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now primary, March 5, 2024 |- ! rowspan="2" | Candidate ! rowspan="2" | Votes ! rowspan="2" | Percentage ! rowspan="2" | Delegates |- |- {{party shading/Legal Marijuana Now}} | style="text-align:left;" | '''Krystal Gabel''' <small>(withdrawn)</small> | '''759''' | '''28.84%''' | - |- | style="text-align:left;" | Dennis Schuller | 459 | 17.44% | '''7''' |- | style="text-align:left;" | Vermin Supreme | 397 | 15.08% | 6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Rudy Reyes | 365 | 13.87% | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Edward Forchion | 168 | 6.38% | 2 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Willie Nelson ''(write-in)'' | 19 | 0.72% | 0 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Other write-ins | 465 | 17.67% | - |- |-style="background:#eee;" !Total: !2,632 !100.00% | '''20''' |- | colspan="6" style="text-align:left;" | Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Certification of Results of 2024 Presidential Nomination Primary |url=https://officialdocuments.sos.state.mn.us/Files/GetDocument/141483 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State | date=March 12, 2024}}</ref> |}
====2024 national convention==== Because Minnesota is more populous, the state's delegates awarded to Richfield businessman Dennis Schuller and Reyes based on the March Minnesota primary results outnumbered the Nebraska delegation which had earlier been pledged unanimously to Cornel West by Nebraska party leaders. The national LMNP convention held in Bloomington, Minnesota on July 6 nominated Schuller and running mate Reyes for the party's presidential ticket, and the 2024 LMNP write-in campaign was certified in several states.<ref name="EvansIndependentReportJuly8"/><ref name="EvansIndependentReportOct30">{{cite web | url=https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2024/10/legal-marijuana-now-party-presidential-ticket-certified-as-write-in-option-in-several-states/ | title=Legal Marijuana Now! Party Presidential Ticket Certified as Write-In Option in Several States | author=Evans, Jordan Willow | work=Independent Political Report | date=October 30, 2024 }}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{See also|Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party#Electoral history|Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party#Electoral history}}
===Minnesota federal and statewide office electoral history===
====1998—2016==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Office ! Candidate ! Popular votes ! Percentage |- | 1998 || U.S. Representative, MN-04 || Dan Vacek || 5,839<ref>{{cite web|title=''Minnesota Election Results 1998,'' p. 43|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1998-11-03-g-sec.pdf|work=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library|date=November 1998|author=Minnesota Secretary of State|author-link=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> || 2.40% |- | 2014 || Minnesota Attorney General || Dan Vacek || 57,604<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Election Results Minnesota Attorney General|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/AttorneyGeneral/20?id=st&officeInElectionId=5528| date=November 2014 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> || 2.99% |- | 2016 || U.S. Representative, MN-04 || Susan Pendergast Sindt || 27,152<ref name="MN 2016 Election Results">{{cite news | title=Minnesota State Canvassing Report: 2016 General Election | date=November 29, 2016 | website=Minnesota Secretary of State | url =http://www.sos.state.mn.us/media/2802/2016-state-canvassing-report.pdf }}</ref> || 7.71% |- | 2016 || U.S. Representative, MN-05 || Dennis Schuller || 30,759<ref name="MN 2016 Election Results"/> || 8.50% |}
====2018—2022==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Office ! Candidate ! Popular votes ! Percentage |- | 2018 || U.S. Senator || Dennis Schuller || 66,236<ref name="MN 2018 Election Results">{{cite web|title=2018 Election Results United States Senator|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/USSenate/115?officeInElectionId=16971%2C16972| date=November 2018 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> || 2.55% |- | 2018 || U.S. Senator (special) || Sarah Wellington || 95,614<ref name="MN 2018 Election Results"/> || 3.70% |- | 2018 || U.S. Representative, MN-04 || Susan Pendergast Sindt || 13,776<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 Election Results United States Representative District 4|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/USRepresentative/115?officeinelectionid=16976&districtid=559| date=November 2018 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> || 4.19% |- | 2018 || Minnesota State Auditor || Michael Ford || 133,913<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 Election Results Minnesota State Auditor|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/StateAuditor/115?officeInElectionId=17117| date=November 2018 |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> || 5.28% |- | 2020 || U.S. Senator || Kevin O’Connor || 190,154<ref name="2020UnitedStatesSenatorElectionResults">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&officeInElectionIdList=22264&officeInElectionIdList=-1&scenario=USSenate&electionDate=11%2F03%2F2020%2000%3A00%3A00|title=2020 Results for US Senator}}</ref> || 5.92% |- | 2020 || U.S. Representative, MN-02 || Adam Charles Weeks || 24,751<ref name="2020District2ElectionResults">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Index?ersElectionId=136&scenario=USRepresentative&districtId=557|title=2020 Results for US Representative District 2 |website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>|| 5.83% |- | 2020 || U.S. Representative, MN-05 || Michael Moore || 29,537<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Index?ersElectionId=136&scenario=USRepresentative&districtId=560|title=2020 Results for US Representative District 5 |website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>|| 9.54% |- | 2020 || U.S. Representative, MN-07 || Slater Johnson || 37,979<ref name="2020UnitedStatesRepresentativeDistrict7ElectionResults">{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Index?ersElectionId=136&scenario=USRepresentative&districtId=562|title=2020 Results for US Representative District 7 |website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>|| 4.87% |- | 2022 || U.S. Representative, MN-01 (special) || Richard Reisdorf || 1,545 || 1.30% |- | 2022 || U.S. Representative, MN-01 || Richard Reisdorf || 6,389 || 2.15% |- | 2022 || U.S. Representative, MN-02 || Paula Overby || 10,728 || 3.30% |- | 2022 || U.S. Representative, MN-07 || Travis "Bull" Johnson || 16,421 || 5.37% |- | 2022 || Minnesota Governor || James McCaskel || 29,346 || 1.17% |- | 2022 || Minnesota State Auditor || Tim Davis || 87,386 || 3.55%<ref name=2022ElectionResults/> |}
===Nebraska federal and statewide office electoral history=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Office ! Candidate ! Popular votes ! Percentage |- | 2022 || U.S. Representative, NE-03 || Mark Elworth Jr. || 13,015 || 5.90% |- | 2022 || Nebraska Attorney General || Larry Bolinger || 188,648 || 30.27% |- | 2022 || Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts || L. Leroy Lopez || 120,986 || 19.32% |}
===2016 U.S. presidential election=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Year ! Candidate ! VP candidate ! Ballot access ! Popular votes ! Percentage ! National rank |- | 2016 || 240px<br />'''Dan Vacek of Minnesota''' || 150px<br />'''Mark Elworth of Nebraska''' || IA, MN<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 General Election Canvass Summary|url=https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2016/general/canvsummary.pdf| date=November 2016 |website=Iowa Secretary of State}}</ref><ref name="MN 2016 Election Results"/> || 13,537<ref name="BlochTeenVogue">{{cite web | url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/alternatives-to-two-major-political-parties-explained | title=Alternatives to the Two Major Political Parties, Explained | work=Teen Vogue | date=October 2, 2019 | author=Bloch, Emily }}</ref> || 0.01%<ref name="BlochTeenVogue"/> || 10th of 31<ref name="2016PresidentialResults">{{cite web | url=http://www.oppositionnews.org/articles/2016/q4/2016-presidential-vote-totals-all-31-candidates/ | title=2016 Presidential Vote Totals for all 31 Candidates | work=Opposition News | date=November 15, 2016 | author=Wachtler, Mark |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206065119/http://www.oppositionnews.org/articles/2016/q4/2016-presidential-vote-totals-all-31-candidates/ |archive-date=6 December 2016 }}</ref> |- |}
==Platform==
The Legal Marijuana Now Party's platform centers around marijuana legalization, including hemp legalization.<ref name="BlochTeenVogue" /> The party has advocated legalizing the home cultivation of marijuana and expunging past cannabis convictions.<ref name="Dutch Report">{{cite web | url=http://www.rollingstoned.nl/weg-trump-en-clinton-stem-legal-marijuana-now/ | title=Weg met Trump en Clinton, stem Legal Marijuana Now! | work=Rolling Stoned | date=October 19, 2016 |language=Dutch }}</ref> It has also advocated broader anti-drug prohibition policies including abolishing the Drug Enforcement Administration and banning employee drug testing.<ref name="BlochTeenVogue" /><ref name="Dutch Report"/>
The party defines its platform as the United States Bill of Rights in its constitution.<ref name="Legal Marijuana Now Constitution">{{cite news | title=Legal Marijuana Now Party Constitution | date=November 26, 2014 | website=legalcannabisnow.org | url =http://www.legalcannabisnow.org/party-constitution }}</ref><ref name="MinnPostArticle13Section7">{{cite web | url=https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2023/06/melons-rutabagas-marijuana-minnesota-constitutions-protection-on-peddling-farm-goods-gets-another-look/ | title=Melons, rutabagas, marijuana? Minnesota Constitution's protection on peddling farm goods gets another look | author=Callaghan, Peter | work=MinnPost | date=June 21, 2023 }}</ref>
==Structure and composition== thumb|Legal Marijuana Now Party mascot, Marvelous Leaf, on Highway 10 Ramsey, Minnesota billboard, 2016
===Movement=== Grassroots organizations are associated with bottom-up rather than top-down decision making. The Legal Marijuana Now Party seeks to engage ordinary people in political discourse to the greatest extent possible.<ref name="Marijuana Party Seeks Ballot"/><ref name="Political Dress Code">{{cite web | url=https://www.racked.com/2018/6/4/17417386/political-candidates-women-female-dress-code | title=Inside the Strict, Unspoken Dress Code for Women Political Candidates: Women running for office are pushing boundaries, but their clothes can't. | work=Racked.com | date=June 4, 2018 | author=Puniewska, Magdalena}}</ref>
===Leadership=== All decisions on important organizational and financial subjects must be reached by a leadership Head Council, which consists of Legal Marijuana Now Party members with at least three consecutive years participation in the party and officers elected by the members at an annual convention held in July.<ref name="Legal Marijuana Now Constitution"/>
Krystal Gabel, of Nebraska, was appointed to national Legal Marijuana Now Party chairperson in 2021 through 2023.<ref name="Ganjapreneur">{{cite web|url=https://www.ganjapreneur.com/legal-marijuana-now-officially-a-political-party-in-nebraska/ |title=Legal Marijuana Now Becomes Official Political Party in Nebraska |date=April 26, 2021 |work=Ganjapreneur |author=Barfield, Lukas | quote=“The voters of Nebraska have experienced many failed referendum petitions in the past and are currently witnessing a gridlocked Unicameral,” said Krystal Gabel, Legal Marijuana Now’s National Party Chair.”}}</ref> Rudy Reyes became party chairperson in 2024.
===State and local chapters=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !State !Chapter Name !Status !Party activity start !Ballot access !Ballot access dates |- |Minnesota |Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party |Active |1998 |No |1998, 2014–present |- |Nebraska |Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party |Active |2016 |Yes |2021–present |- |Iowa | |Unknown |2016 | No | 2016 (presidential) |}
==See also== {{Portal|Cannabis}} * Cannabis political parties of the United States
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *'''Legal Marijuana Now Party (United States)''' **[https://www.facebook.com/LMN.USA/ facebook.com/LMN.USA] *'''State branches''' **''Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party'' ***{{official website|http://www.legalcannabisnow.org/}} ***[https://www.facebook.com/LMN.Minnesota/ facebook.com/LMN.Minnesota] **''Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW Party'' ***[https://www.facebook.com/MJPNE/ facebook.com/MJPNE]
{{Cannabis|state=collapsed}} {{Drug policy}} {{Iowa political parties}} {{Minnesota political parties}} {{United States political parties}}
Category:American organizations established in 1998 Category:Cannabis law reform organizations based in the United States Category:Cannabis political parties in the United States Category:Drug policy organizations based in the United States Category:Political parties established in 1998 Category:Green political parties in the United States Category:Progressive parties in the United States Category:Social democratic parties in the United States