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legalization.[3][4] Other Grassroots parties have previously operated in the U.S. states of Iowa and Vermont, but are no longer active.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
^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.
^Gilyard, Burl (July 5, 1995). "Doobie Brothers: Grassroots Party members grapple with their budding political clout". Twin Cities Reader.
^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."
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