Independent Grassroots Party

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Independent Grassroots Party
Founded1996 (1996)
IdeologyMarijuana legalization
ColorsGreen

The Independent Grassroots Party was a 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]

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.[2] 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legalization.[3][4] Other Grassroots parties have previously operated in the U.S. states of Iowa and Vermont, but are no longer active.

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.[5] Dan Vacek was the Independent Grassroots candidate for United States Representative (Minnesota District 4).[6][7] In 1998, members of the Independent Grassroots Party established the Legal Marijuana Now political party.[1][8]

1996 U.S. presidential candidates[]

Independent Grassroots Party results in presidential elections[]

Year Candidate VP candidate Ballot access Popular votes Percentage
1996 John-Birrenbach.jpg
John Birrenbach of Minnesota		 George McMahon of Iowa MN[5] 787[5] 0.00

1996 results in Minnesota state elections[]

Results in federal elections[]

Year Office Candidate Popular votes Percentage
1996 United States Representative, District 4 Dan Vacek 2,696[7] 1.05%

See also[]

  • Cannabis political parties of the United States

References[]

  1. ^ a b Harvieux, Vincent (May 3, 2018). "Joint Ops: Why Minnesota has two pro-marijuana parties". Perfect Duluth Day.
  2. ^ Reston, James Jr. (1991). Collision at Home Plate: The Lives of Pete Rose and Bart Giamatti, p. 78. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0803289642.
  3. ^ Kahn, Aron (October 1987). "Marijuana backers keep issue burning / Controversy still alive". Star Tribune. "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.
  4. ^ Gilyard, Burl (July 5, 1995). "Doobie Brothers: Grassroots Party members grapple with their budding political clout". Twin Cities Reader.
  5. ^ a b c Bickford, Bob (October 7, 1998). "1996 Presidential Election Results by State". Ballot Access News.
  6. ^ Shaffer, David (July 22, 1996). "On political fringe, with public funds: Grassroots Party stands on prostitution, adult-child sex push some members away". St. Paul Pioneer Press. 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."
  7. ^ a b Minnesota Secretary of State (November 1996). "Minnesota Election Results 1996, p. 40" (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
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