Minnesota Democrats ask the state Supreme Court to undo Marijuana Party’s ‘Major Political Party’ status

They don’t think we are worthy to be part of the political system. They have made rules in order to eliminate us .”

By Michelle Griffith, Minnesota Reformer

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to decertify the Legal Marijuana Now Party as a major political party. The DFL claims that the Legal Marijuana Now Party did not comply with the new election laws of the state, and its nomination of a candidate for president against her wishes shows the party’s disregard to the law.

DFL Chair Ken Martin wants the court also to order Secretary Steve Simon (D), to prevent Legal Marijuana Now, from nominating any presidential candidates.

Democrats want to see the Legal Marijuana Now Party, one of two parties that are devoted to legalizing what is already legal, lose its status as a major party. The other party, Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party is now a minority party.

Republicans have sometimes appeared to collude in an attempt to steal votes from Democratic candidates, angering some Democrats. For example, the campaign treasurer for the Legal Marijuana Now Party’s candidate in the 2022 2nd Congressional District race posted a picture of herself holding a flag with a photoshop of President Donald Trump as Rambo, holding a bazooka.

The status of a major party confers many advantages, including ballot access. This eliminates the need to go through the costly and time-consuming process of collecting signatures in order to appear on the election ballot. The Secretary of State’s Office declined to comment citing ongoing litigation.

Dennis Schuller is the chair of the Legal Marijuana Now Party. He told The Reformer on Tuesday that he had not heard of the lawsuit. However, he said he was not surprised, as the DFL and GOP have been hostile towards outsiders for a long time.

They don’t think we are worthy to be part of the system. “They’ve passed laws to try to eradicate us,” Schuller stated, citing new election laws that were passed by the DFL controlled Legislature.

The Legal Marijuana Now Party did not meet all the criteria for major party status.

The DFL is one of the major parties that has legalized marijuana in Minnesota. https://t.co/UbXDx4ZNFj

Minnesota DFL Party February 7, 2020 HTML0

Last session, the Minnesota Legislature created new criteria to determine major party status. A party must have local conventions, executive committees in at least 45 counties, or legislative districts to qualify. They must also submit documentation with the dates and locations for those conventions.

In its court filing, the DFL includes correspondence between Schuller’s office and the Secretary of State. In his first letter requesting major party status Schuller stated that the party had conventions in April and June 2023. Schuller stated in a second email that the convention scheduled for June 2022 was “state, congressional districts, county, and legislative district conventions.”

The secretary of State’s Office told the Legal Marijuana Now Party that it had to provide specific dates and locations for the conventions. Schuller sent a third email, which contained a list with the party’s conventions for 2022. The list included the party’s state convention, eight district conventions, and 67 district or county conventions. All were held at the same time in June 2022, in Bloomington, and online through Zoom.

In its filing, the DFL said that it was “implausible”, for the marijuana party, to hold all of its conventions on the same date, at the same place, and via Zoom. The Legal Marijuana Now Party also stated on its Facebook page that the state convention would last an hour.

The DFL’s filing in court states that it is “practically and logistically impossible” for 76 conventions to take place on a single day, much less one hour and at one location. It is impossible for 76 delegates to finish the business of their respective units in an hour in a single location.

According to the filing, the Legal Marijuana Now Party does not qualify to run in the presidential elections because the state only permits a major political party to participate if they hold a national convention. The DFL claims that this is not the case.

The DFL also cited a recent report that showed one of the Legal Marijuana Now Party’s presidential candidates had not consented to be on the ballot. The Star Tribune last week revealed the party had placed Colorado resident Krystal Gabel on the Minnesota Presidential Primary ballot without her consent. Gabel claimed she discovered her candidacy via a Google alert.

The DFL stated in its court filing that “the (Legal Marijuana Now) Party has shown disregard for Minnesota election laws by participating in the presidential primary and naming at least one candidate who did not request or consent to appear on ballot.”

The DFL stated Simon, a Democrat serving his third term, made an error when certifying marijuana as a major party. They asked the Supreme Court for a correction.

In 2022, the Legislature approved low-dose THC drinks and edibles. Cannabis was fully legalized last year. Dispensaries will be licensed in 2025. The mandates of the pot parties will become more obscure.

Schuller stated that even though adult marijuana use in Minnesota is legal, the party’s focus is on federal legalization. It is also more focused on representing Minnesota’s independent voters.

Schuller stated, “It is a symbol that represents what we are about. But it’s not just a leaf.” “We do not dictate to the candidates what they should believe or how. “We support them.”

This article was originally published by Minnesota Reformer.