Marijuana Reform Party

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]

Marijuana Reform Party
Abbreviation	MRP
Founded	1997
Dissolved	2004
Ideology	Cannabis legalization
Politics of United States Political parties Elections

Gubernatorial tickets

• 1998 – Thomas K. Leighton and Jeffrey C. Wright[4]
• 2002 – Thomas K. Leighton and Thomas J. Hillgardner[5]

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

• Cannabis political parties of the United States

References

1. "Key to Party Abbreviations". The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. 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.
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. 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. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
6. "The 1997 Elections: Results". The New York Times. November 5, 1997.
7. "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.
9. "Comptroller Election Returns 1998" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. November 3, 1998.
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.
12. 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. The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 13, 2009.