What is the Legal Marijuana Now Party?

The Legal Marijuana Now Party may be a relatively small third-party in the U.S. fighting for change on a state and federal level, but it deserves recognition for all its hard work over the years from everyone who enjoys the fruits of cannabis legalization.

Federal cannabis legalization may be closer than ever to becoming a reality, but how did we come so far in just a few decades after a long period of cannabis prohibition? How much further do we have to go to legalize weed?

Cannabis advocates through the ages have continuously fought for our right to grow cannabis at home and rectify the past injustices of prohibition. Cannabis political parties exist throughout the world and usually focus on a single issue: legal marijuana. 

What Is the Legal Marijuana Now Party?

The Legal Marijuana Now Party is a political third party in the U.S. founded in 1998 to fight against the war on drugs. It is a branch of the Grassroots Party with roots tracing back to the Youth International Party formed in the late 1960s.

In the U.S., other cannabis political parties include the Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party and the U.S. Marijuana Party. The Green Party and Libertarian Party have publicly supported legal marijuana.

History: From the 1960s to Today

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Youth International Party, also known as the Yippies, supported and ran political candidates that promoted the radical values of the counterculture. They were best known for their theatrical and absurdist street pranks designed to draw attention to their politics.

In 1986, the Grassroots Party was started in Minnesota. Since then, the party has been active across many states, including Iowa, Vermont, and Minnesota. Over the years, the party chapters have run several pro-cannabis candidates for public office.

In 2014, the Legal Marijuana Now became an official political party in the state of Minnesota. The party, an offshoot of the Grassroots Party, has chapters in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. There are more cannabis political parties active across other states.

In April 2021, the Legal Marijuana Now Party gained official recognition as a state political party in Nebraska. This means voters can register with the party, and party officials can nominate candidates for public office. In four years, the party collected 10,000 signatures of the necessary 6,800 to gain ballot access.

Platform

What does the Legal Marijuana Now Party stand for? According to their website, their permanent platform is the U.S. Bill of Rights. They are fighting against prohibition, which they believe suppresses civil liberties, promotes corruption, and perpetuates racism.

They also believe that legal marijuana would provide more jobs and boost the economy. Cannabis can provide a wide range of industrial uses from its seeds, fiber, and flowers. For example, hemp can be used to make rope, biofuel, fabric, and much more.

The Legal Marijuana Now Party adopts these main principles:

• Legalize home cultivation of cannabis
• Erase past cannabis convictions
• Ban drug testing for prospective employees
• Eliminate the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Use hemp sustainably to offset climate change
• Support third-party platforms, including rank choice voting

Mascot and Party Colors

The Legal Marijuana Now Party has a name that says it all. They are fighting for legal marijuana, not sometime in the future, but now!

The official political party mascots are the Marvelous Cannabis Leaf and Pro-Cannabis Panda. 

The official colors of the Legal Marijuana Now Party are green, gold, and red, colors also associated with the Rastafari movement, the flag of Ethiopia, and the Youth International Party flag.

In addition, the Legal Marijuana Now Party is proud to display a rainbow flag (red, orange, green, blue, violet, and yellow) to represent its inclusive philosophy.

How to Get Involved

Are you interested in supporting the Legal Marijuana Now Party? Anyone can join the Legal Marijuana Now Party by volunteering or donating. Volunteer to help candidates run for local, state, and federal offices. Any help can move the needle toward legal marijuana, now!

How can you help the Legal Marijuana Now Party? Here are a few easy ways to do your part:

1. Donate any amount to fund filing fees, promotional material, parades, and more.
2. Attend an upcoming Legal Marijuana Now meeting via Zoom
3. Volunteer to work at an event
4. Reach out to legislations to stop prohibition
5. Follow Legal Marijuana Now on Twitter and Facebook
6. Share the website link with your friends and family

Become a Master of Marijuana and Advocate

Legalizing marijuana hasn’t come easy, and there’s a long road ahead to federal legalization. Do your part by learning as much as you can about the plant and the industry. Support candidates that represent cannabis patients and recreational users. Volunteer for a city or statewide race. There are many ways to make your voice heard.

If you’re interested in gaining a cannabis education from the comfort of your home enroll in Cannabis Training University’s online marijuana training. Learn everything you want to know about cannabis cultivation, cooking, extraction, law, medicine, careers, and business.

It’s never too late to make a difference. Enroll today!