Marijuana Party of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Marijuana Party is a Canadian
federal
political party
. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition
of cannabis
. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area. Thus, party candidates are free to express their own personal views on all other political issues even if such views contradict the personal opinions of other party candidates or the party leader. Candidates appear on election ballots with the short-form of the party name "Radical Marijuana." They are in a very similar situation to what independent candidates are in. Radical Marijuana is a "decentralized" party. Although it is governed by the Canada Elections Act, it has no other by-laws, charter or constitution to govern its operations. Its Electoral District Associations are autonomous units of the party as whole. The only material benefit that small registered political parties have is the political contribution tax credit, and Parti Marijuana Party seeks to maximize that opportunity through its Electoral District Associations.
. On February 28, 2005, St-Maurice announced his intention to join the Liberal Party
in order to work for liberalized marijuana laws from within the governing party. A large number of former Marijuana Party members have joined one of the mainstream political parties (Bloc Québécois
, NDP
, Liberal, Conservative
, or Green
) in order to push for reform from within.
In 2005, Elections Canada recognized Blair T. Longley as the new party leader following St-Maurice's resignation.
In the November 2000 federal election
, the party nominated candidates in 73 ridings
in seven provinces and won 66,419 votes (0.52% of national popular vote). In the June 2004 federal election
, the party nominated almost the same number of candidates (71), but won only 33,590 votes (0.25% of the national popular vote). In the January 2006 federal election
, the party ran candidates in only 23 ridings
and received 9,275 votes (0.06% of the national popular vote). In the Nunavut
riding, however, the party's candidate won 7.88% of all ballots cast and finished in fourth place, ahead of the Greens.
In January and May 2004, changes were made to Canada's electoral laws which significantly reduced the fund raising abilities of the Marijuana Party; specifically, the elections law was amended so that most of the Marijuana Party's political contribution tax credit scheme was criminalized. The end result of those changes was a significant drop in the party's funding. Since 2004, parties with more than two per cent of the national vote are eligible to receive $2 per year per individual vote, as well as have the majority of their election expenses refunded. Small parties, who are unable to secure two per cent of the vote, such as the Marijuana Party, do not qualify for any subsidy from votes or for election expenses. In 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada
upheld this funding requirement. A court ruling made each federal candidate's $1,000 nomination deposit fully refundable. Another court ruling reduced the number of candidates required for official party status from 50 to only 1. Although these rulings have made it possible for the Marijuana Party to survive, the 2004 electoral changes have left the Marijuana Party substantially weaker.
which received over 3% of the vote in the 2001 provincial election, and the Marijuana Party of Nova Scotia. The Bloc Pot and the federal Marijuana Party work together, however, the BC Marijuana Party and the federal Marijuana Party do not work together.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
federal
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. Its agenda consists of ending prohibition
Prohibition (drugs)
The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to prevent drug use. Prohibition of drugs has existed at various levels of government or other authority from the Middle Ages to the present....
of cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. With the exception of this one issue, the party does not have "official policy" in any other area. Thus, party candidates are free to express their own personal views on all other political issues even if such views contradict the personal opinions of other party candidates or the party leader. Candidates appear on election ballots with the short-form of the party name "Radical Marijuana." They are in a very similar situation to what independent candidates are in. Radical Marijuana is a "decentralized" party. Although it is governed by the Canada Elections Act, it has no other by-laws, charter or constitution to govern its operations. Its Electoral District Associations are autonomous units of the party as whole. The only material benefit that small registered political parties have is the political contribution tax credit, and Parti Marijuana Party seeks to maximize that opportunity through its Electoral District Associations.
History
The party was founded by Marc-Boris St-MauriceMarc-Boris St-Maurice
Marc-Boris St-Maurice is an activist, political and Canadian musician, who has campaigned for many years for the legalization of cannabis, and to facilitate access to the drug for health reasons. He lives in Montreal.-Music career:...
. On February 28, 2005, St-Maurice announced his intention to join the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in order to work for liberalized marijuana laws from within the governing party. A large number of former Marijuana Party members have joined one of the mainstream political parties (Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
, NDP
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, Liberal, Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
, or Green
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
) in order to push for reform from within.
In 2005, Elections Canada recognized Blair T. Longley as the new party leader following St-Maurice's resignation.
In the November 2000 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
, the party nominated candidates in 73 ridings
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
in seven provinces and won 66,419 votes (0.52% of national popular vote). In the June 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, the party nominated almost the same number of candidates (71), but won only 33,590 votes (0.25% of the national popular vote). In the January 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, the party ran candidates in only 23 ridings
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
and received 9,275 votes (0.06% of the national popular vote). In the Nunavut
Nunavut (electoral district)
Nunavut is a federal electoral district in Nunavut, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. Nunatsiaq, its predecessor that covered the same area, was a federal electoral district in Northwest Territories, that was represented in the House of Commons from 1979...
riding, however, the party's candidate won 7.88% of all ballots cast and finished in fourth place, ahead of the Greens.
In January and May 2004, changes were made to Canada's electoral laws which significantly reduced the fund raising abilities of the Marijuana Party; specifically, the elections law was amended so that most of the Marijuana Party's political contribution tax credit scheme was criminalized. The end result of those changes was a significant drop in the party's funding. Since 2004, parties with more than two per cent of the national vote are eligible to receive $2 per year per individual vote, as well as have the majority of their election expenses refunded. Small parties, who are unable to secure two per cent of the vote, such as the Marijuana Party, do not qualify for any subsidy from votes or for election expenses. In 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
upheld this funding requirement. A court ruling made each federal candidate's $1,000 nomination deposit fully refundable. Another court ruling reduced the number of candidates required for official party status from 50 to only 1. Although these rulings have made it possible for the Marijuana Party to survive, the 2004 electoral changes have left the Marijuana Party substantially weaker.
Election results
| Election | # of candidates nominated | # of total votes | % of popular vote | % in ridings run in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Canadian federal election, 2000 The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada.... |
|
|
|
|
| 2004 Canadian federal election, 2004 The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections... |
|
|
|
|
| 2006 Canadian federal election, 2006 The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:... |
|
|
|
|
| 2008 Canadian federal election, 2008 The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008... |
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|
| 2011 | |
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Provincial parties
In addition to the Bloc Pot party in Quebec, the Marijuana Party has several separate provincial counterparts, most notably, the British Columbia Marijuana PartyBritish Columbia Marijuana Party
The British Columbia Marijuana Party is a minor political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia that advocates the legalisation of cannabis....
which received over 3% of the vote in the 2001 provincial election, and the Marijuana Party of Nova Scotia. The Bloc Pot and the federal Marijuana Party work together, however, the BC Marijuana Party and the federal Marijuana Party do not work together.
See also
- Marijuana Party candidates, 2008 Canadian federal election
- Marijuana Party candidates, 2006 Canadian federal electionMarijuana Party candidates, 2006 Canadian federal electionThe Marijuana Party of Canada fielded several candidates in the 2006 federal election, none of whom were elected.-Carleton—Mississippi Mills: George Walter Kolaczynski:Kolaczysnki listed himself as a postal worker in the 2004 campaign....
- Legal issues of cannabisLegal issues of cannabisThe legality of cannabis has been the subject of debate and controversy for decades. Cannabis is illegal to consume, use, possess, cultivate, transfer or trade in most countries...
- Marijuana parties