Marijuana Reform Party
AbbreviationMRP
Founded1997
Dissolved2004
IdeologyCannabis legalization

The Marijuana Reform Party (abbreviated MRP)[1] was a progressive minor political party in the U.S. state of New York dedicated to the legalization of cannabis.[2] Founded in 1997, the Marijuana Reform Party ran a candidate for Governor of New York and other statewide offices in 1998 and 2002.[3]

Gubernatorial tickets

Election results

Results in New York City elections

Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage
1997 Manhattan Borough President Thomas Leighton 6,235 3.0%[6]
2001 Manhattan Borough President Garry Goodrow 7,322 1.9%[7]
2001 New York City Mayor Thomas Leighton 2,563 0.2%[7]
2001 New York City Comptroller Tracy Blevins 17,340 1.2%[7]
2001 New York City Public Advocate Chris Launois 21,721 1.5%[7]

Results in New York State elections

Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage
1998 New York Governor Thomas Leighton 24,788 0.50%[8]
1998 New York Comptroller Dean Venezia 39,423 0.79%[9]
2002 New York Governor Thomas Leighton 21,977 0.47%[10]

Results in federal elections

Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage
1998 United States Senator Corinne Kurtz 34,281 0.69%[11]

Competition with the Green Party

In 1998, gubernatorial candidate Tom Leighton accused the Green Party of New York of trying to have him removed several times from the November ballot by "challenging the validity of his petition signatures".[12] The Board of Elections rejected the claim lodged by Richard Hirsh of the Green Party. Both parties, which appeal to liberal voters, competed for 50,000 votes required for an automatic ballot line on future ballots.[12] After both parties failed to obtain enough votes to gain a place on local and statewide ballots, Leighton stated that he had "no plans to try again next time."[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Key to Party Abbreviations". The Washington Post. 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Siegel, Joel (May 26, 1998). "Pol is taking a pot show gov wanna-be has inhaled". Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved November 13, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Burnt Out". New York Press. Manhattan Media. December 28, 2004. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  4. ^ Ruscitti, Frank (November 3, 2008). "Reefer Madness". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "Marijuana Reform Party Candidates To Appear On New York State Ballot". National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. September 20, 2002. Archived from the original on November 9, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  6. ^ "The 1997 Elections: Results". The New York Times. November 5, 1997.
  7. ^ a b c d "Election Results Summary: 2001 General Election" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. November 6, 2001.
  8. ^ "Governor Election Returns 1998" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. November 3, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  9. ^ "Comptroller Election Returns 1998" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. November 3, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  10. ^ "Governor Election Returns 2002" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. November 5, 2002.
  11. ^ "United States Senator Election Returns 1998" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. November 3, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 7, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Bonanos, Christopher (September 28, 1998). "Politics: Marijuana Party Accuses Green Party of Weed-Whacking". New York. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  13. ^ Worth, Robert (November 7, 2002). "The 2002 Elections: Smaller Parties; Liberal Party and Others Fall Short of Votes to Stay on Ballot". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
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