**Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now**
Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now is a grassroots political organization dedicated to the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Minnesota. The term “Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now” originated from the growing demand for cannabis reform in the state, reflecting a shift in public perception and policy towards marijuana. Historically, the movement began as part of a larger national effort to challenge the prohibition of cannabis, advocating for its medicinal and recreational use. As the conversation around cannabis evolved, Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now expanded its focus to include issues such as economic opportunities, public health, and criminal justice reform. The organization has been instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing support for cannabis legislation, making it a key player in Minnesota’s journey towards legal marijuana. By championing the cause of cannabis legalization, Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now aims to create a more equitable and informed approach to cannabis policy in the state. [Source: Harvard]
Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! is a political third party in the U.S. state of Minnesota established in 1998 to oppose drug prohibition. They are formally recognized as a minor party.
Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | LMN |
| Chairperson | Dennis Schuller |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Preceded by | Independent Grassroots Party |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis |
| Newspaper | Freedom Gazette |
| Ideology | Marijuana legalization |
| National affiliation | Legal Marijuana Now |
| Colors | Green, Gold, Red |
| State Senate | 0 / 67 |
| State House | 0 / 134 |
| U.S. Senate | 0 / 2 |
| U.S. House | 0 / 8 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! became a major party in Minnesota in 2018 when their candidate for State Auditor, Michael Ford, received 5.3 percent of the vote. During the 2010s the party began expansion attempts to Iowa, Nebraska, other states, continuing during the 2020s, as the Legal Marijuana Now Party.
In 2020, the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! nominee for United States Senator received 190,154 votes in the November 3 election, the largest number of votes received in 2020, in the U.S., by any such third-party candidate. Democrats have stated that Legal Marijuana Now! candidates are detrimental to the Democratic Party. An analysis of votes cast in the 2020 Minnesota elections found that Legal Marijuana Now! candidates might have helped Democratic candidates in swing districts, by drawing a greater number of votes from Republican-leaning voters, in 2020.
Scholars have credited Minnesota's third parties, and particularly Legal Marijuana Now!, with motivating the state Democratic Party to prioritize cannabis legalization in 2023. They lost their major party status in a 2024 challenge by the Minnesota Democratic Party with the state Supreme Court.
