As the issue of cannabis legalization heats up so too does the discussion of women and cannabis use. At this week’s national NORML conference in Portland (Oregon) there is a panel ‘Women, Cannabis and Respect’ hosted by the NORML Women’s Alliance.
Via Jerri Merritt’s very popular TalkLeft: A leading Canadian magazine for marijuana reform, Skunk, has devoted its current issue to “lady legalizers.” Among the features: “The Top 100 Women of Weed.”
Thanks to Skunk for including me in the list. The list is pretty impressive with some names that surprised me: Arianna Huffington, Barbra Streisand, actress Kate Hudson and clothing designer Stella McCartney.
The list is heavier on activists, actresses and singers than attorneys, which makes me even more appreciative to be included. Examples: [See More Below….]
Mary Louise Parker, Alanis Morrisette, Bette Midler, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Melissa Etheridge, and Francis McDormand.
Also making the cut: My good pals Anita Thompson (Owl Farm, where I am headed for Labor Day Weekend, rock star editor Shelby Sadler and conservative activist and Denver attorney, Jessica Correy, who is on the same floor as me and the TL kid in our new office digs.
For women who want to get more involved in legalization efforts, I recommend the NORML Women’s Alliance.
The NORML Women’s Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of prominent, educated, successful, geographical diverse and high-profile professional women who believe that marijuana prohibition is a self-destructive and hypocritical policy that undermines the American family, sends a mixed and false message to our young people, and destroys the cherished principles of personal liberty and local self-government.
Marijuana prohibition makes the difficult job of parenting even more difficult by the state and federal governments not actually controlling marijuana use, cultivation or distribution–notably by American youth.
These diverse women will bring a contemporary approach to the public policy debate, and will proudly represent the interests of modern, mainstream women who believe that the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition far outweigh any repercussions from marijuana consumption itself.
The NORML Women present a core group of national spokeswomen ready to interact with the public and the media on the important issue of marijuana legalization.
Allen St.Pierre, NORML’s outstanding Executive Director, has this to say about the Women’s Alliance:
“The prominent role of women in the effort to end marijuana prohibition is pivotal, necessary, and long overdue. According to recent national opinion polls by Gallup and others, the dramatic rise in the public’s support of marijuana law reform is being driven primarily by an increase in support among America’s women. The NORML Women’s Alliance will bring a contemporary approach to the public policy debate, and will proudly represent the interests of modern, mainstream women who believe that the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition far outweigh any repercussions from marijuana consumption itself.”
NORML’s Women’s Alliance was founded in January, 2010. I am one of its charter members. It’s goals:
- The NORML Women’s Alliance believes that the fiscal priorities of marijuana prohibition are wasting billions of dollars on a failed policy.
- The NORML Women’s Alliance believes that marijuana prohibition violates states’ rights, and improperly expands the reach of government into the families and personal lives of otherwise law-abiding citizens.
- The NORML Women’s Alliance advocates for an open, honest conversation about marijuana with America’s youth that is void of all propaganda and misleading information.
- The NORML Women’s Alliance endorses the science-based evidence regarding the therapeutic applications of medical marijuana as well as the continuation of research into the subject.
- The NORML Women’s Alliance strongly opposes the sexual exploitation and objectification of women in pot-culture and business marketing.
You can get additional information about the Women’s Alliance here. If this is your issue, come and join us as we contribute our time and ideals to making a long-held dream for many, particularly those suffering from chronic pain, come true.
As Grace Slick would say, “It’s a new dawn.
From Celebstoner’s write up of the 100 Women of Weed:
Canada’s leading pot magazine has devoted its latest issue to lady legalizers, distaff danksters, gorgeous growers and just about everything female, including cannabis of course. According to Skunk, these are the most “influential women of the cannabis world.” (Note that the list skews heavily towards Canadian activists and actually includes 114 women.)
In alphabetical order:
Carolyn “Mountain Girl” Adams – ex-wife of Jerry Garcia
Rebecca Ambrose – Vancouver Seed Bank
Elena Babescu – Romanian President’s daughter*
Drew Barrymore – actress
Lynn Belle-Isle – Canadian AIDS Society
Joan Bello – author of The Benefits of Marijuana
Sarah Bergeron – activist
Hilary Black – BC Compassion Club Society
Natalie Bouchard – activist
Bong Pixie – Toronto Hash Mob
Dr. Susan Boyd – author
Sarah Cannon – activist
Rielle Capler – Canadians for Safe Access
Tamara Cartwright – Southern Alberta Cannabis Club
Danni Cherish – activist
Loretta Clark – activist
Shelby Chong – comedienne, wife of Tommy Chong
Valerie Corral – WAMM
Jessica Corry – attorney
Cathy Couch – activist
Adrienne Curry – model
Joy Davies – City Councilor, Grand Forks, B.C.
Libby Davies – member of Canadian Parliament
Dragonfly de la Luz – writer
Dora Dempster – Vancouver Medicinal Cannabis
Cameron Diaz – actress
Sarah Diesel – Oaksterdam University
Barbara Douglas – federal medical-cannabis patient
Melanie Dreher – editor
Ann Druyan – NORML board member, wife of Carl Sagan
Barabara Ehrenreich – NORML advisory board member, author
Jodi Emery – Cannabis Culture, wife of Marc Emery
Eva Ends – SAFER
Melissa Etheridge – musician
Anna Faris – actress
Debbie Fagin – Calgary 420
Vycki Fleming – activist
Megan Fox – actress
Toni Fox – activist
Dr. Esther Fride – scientist (RIP)
Ann Genovy – activist
Debby Goldsberry – Berkeley Patients Group
Crystal Guess – activist
Shirley Halperin – author of Pot Culture
Deb Harper – DrugSense
Hemptress December – activist
Jeannie Herer – wife of Jack Herer
Kate Hudson – actress
Ariana Huffington – Huffington Post, DPA honorary board member
Mila Jansen – Ice-o-later
Jasmin – breeder
Debbie Jeffries – activist
Dr. Claudia Jensen – researcher (RIP)
Mari Kane – publisher
Jane Klein – Quick Trading Co., wife of Ed Rosenthal
Lisa Mamakind Kirkland – Skunk
Stephanie Landa – Landa Prison Outreach
Kay Lee – activist
Kathy Lewis – Oregon NORML
Sarah Lovering – MPP
Tara Lyons – Canadian SSDP
Kristen Mann – activist
Alison Margolin – L.A.’s Dopest Attorney
Rita Marley – singer, wife of Bob Marley
Jean Marlowe – WONPR
Madeline Martinez – NORML board member
Mary Lynn Mathre – Patients Out of Time
Stella McCartney – fashion designer, daughter of Paul McCartney
Cher Ford McCollough – WONPR
Francis McDormand – actress
Jeralyn Merritt – attorney
Bette Midler – singer, actress, activist
Cheryl Miller – patient activist (RIP)
Corinne Millet – federal medical-cannabis patient
Alanis Morissette – musician, actress on Weeds
Elvy Musikka – federal medical-cannabis patient
MzJill – breeder
Loretta Nall – Alabama Compassionate Care
Mikki Norris – West Coast Leaf
Mary Louise-Parker – actress, star of Weeds
Puff Mama – medibles baker
Gayle Quin – CBCC
Angel McClarey Raich – medical-cannabis patient
Michelle Rainey – Treating Yourself
Mary Jane “Brownie Mary” Rathbun – medibles baker (RIP)
Judith Renaud – EFSDP
Stephanie Ritch – activist
Vanessa Rivers – model
Danna Rosek – activist
Marjorie Russell – attorney
Pauline Saban – WONPR (RIP)
Shelby Sadler – NORML Women’s Alliance
Sarah Saiger – Bambu
Tian Scherer – model
Nicole Seguin – WhyProhibition
Steph Sherer – ASA
Cheryl Shuman – Beverly Hills Cannabis Club
Sarah Silverman -comedienne, actress
McKenna Stephens – Marijuana Radio
Kristen Stewart – actress
Barbara Streisand – singer, actress
Sarah Strongarm – writer
Nadine Strossen – ACLU
Debbie Stultz-Giffin – MUMM
The WeedGeezs – breeders
Anita Thompson – wife of Hunter S. Thompson
Alice B. Toklas – brownie baker (RIP)
Pebble Tribbett – activist
Jennifer Valley – Stoney Girl Gardens
Watermelon – model, medibles baker
Karen Watson – entrepreneur
Sita Von Windheim – Green Harvest
April Yaroslausky – Edmonton 420
Dr. Lynn Zimmer – sociologist, author of Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts (RIP)
* have no idea why she’s on the list
These “women of weed” were omitted from the list:
Mischa Barton – stoner starlet
Ani DiFranco – musician, MPP advisory board member
Dr. Jocelyn Elders – former Surgeon General, MPP advisory board member, DPA honorary board member
Sabrina Fendrick – NORML
Paris Hilton – stoner starlet
Dr. Julie Holland – editor of The Pot Book
Ellen Komp – California NORML
Natasha “Vaporella” Lewin – High Times
Mishka – French activist
Mae “Grandma Marijuana” Nutt – activist (RIP)
Michelle Phillips – singer, MPP advisory board member
Amy Poehler – comedienne, actress
Marsha Rosenbaum – DPA
Susan Sarandon – actress, MPP advisory board member
Deborah Small – Break the Chains
Wow, sounds like there should be some very beautiful spokeswomen for Prop. 19 considering how many stunning actresses are on this list. Of course, in reality, most of them will be too cowed by studios to do more than quietly support it, but one hopes at least one of them risks it.
I appreciate anyone trying to legalize weed but I fail to see the significance of them being women. Male or female it is the same. The only reason I can fathom is your trying to sell sex??? I am at a loss here.
[Editor’s note: About sex? Ever been to a pro-cannabis law reform conference or seminar? Notice the dearth of women and minorities? Cannabis Prohibition will not end just because a bunch of white guys got organized…]
Nobody from “WEEDS” deserves to be on this list. That show hates on medical marijuana all the time. I get the impression that the people who make the show think medical marijuana is just one big nonstop fraud. So nobody from that show deserves to be on this list.
You should give Mary Louise Parker’s place on the list to Susan Sarandon, because Sarandon doesn’t treat medical marijuana like a fraud, whereas “WEEDS” treats MMJ like a fraud every single time without fail.
I am a woman and I am for no more marijuana prohibition. I’m in my 50’s and I think it is going to get ugly. Please, Normal Women’s Alliance, please take it to the next level and sign up voters everywhere, Libraries, coffee shops, headshops. The young people will carry this vote. Then what will the Federal Government do?
You go Women of America.. Be Heard!
to #2 somedood,you know, its easy to think that way an, i did when i first heard about the whole women thing but,in real terms, its all about the group man…its about gaining strength for a great cause..no matter women or men.their isnt any sex goin on here far as i can tell….if they happen to be beautiful(because their is beauty in all), intelligent and sucessful……then that is a plus for the cause to free the remedy…..have a great day an,peace to you all…..
Kristen Stewart over Susan Sarandon?
Sarandon did a twilight movie back in 1998…
Becides, she was awesome in Speed Racer.
(yes I actually liked Speed Racer and no I won’t comment on my mental state while watching the movie)
Forgot to mention Kayden420, FYI
It’s not exactly clear to me who the author of this piece was — it obviously was not Allen as the byline indicates. Anyone care to clue me in?
Also, I think Jane Hamsher is another notable female reformer left off the list. Between the Just Say Now campaign and her many TV appearances, she’s an important voice from the politically progressive contingent.
For some reason, WOMEN’S Voices, have more credibility in politics, community services and special interest issues. We should have recruited them from the beginning to spear head this whole process of legalization.
Women are defeating the stereo-type that all women are irrational. Men and women alike are both ration and irrational and people are realizing that this must be looked at on the individual level. Honestly I think with the right women in office this country can be saved.
Why Women?
Do a 2 minute google search on women and alcohol prohibition. You might learn something!
Learnin’ is good for ya…
@7
It’s about time.
Thats alot of women that i didnt even know that supports it ,all i can say is WOW
As a Sargeant in our army we choose organic marijuana over deadly marijuana with pesticides . I have lost over 12,000 of my redants from your pesicides so , please do not use pesticides when you grow Pot . Leave it organic & the next time you grow think about us poor little ants who won’t be around for your ant farm or to entertain you next time you spray your Pot with fumicides …..Get us mad and we’ll bite you all over next time your on the beach or where ever .
This is why i advertise this. This is a nonprofit organization dispensary website that everybody should join and support so when New Jersey finally sets up regulations patients will have this place to go to.
Cannabinol Haven
providing medicine to rid the pain.
1. i have met two of these;
Elvy Musikka – federal medical-cannabis patient
Loretta Nall – Alabama Compassionate Care
–both wonderfull people !!
2. women joining the fight in force is another MAJOR MILESTONE, right up there with;
– L.E.A.P. joining the fight,
-doctors and nurses associations joining the fight,
-recent polls showing that the MAJORITY NOW SUPPORTS NON-MEDICAL LEGALIZATION.
3. (off topic)(start new thread??) OBAMA’S LAST CHANCE !!
if prez. obama doesn’t use that slim 51 / 49 vote majority,
to do something FOR HIS BASE,
NOW, BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS,
he will lose it, and any additional progress will be blocked, and he will not get a second term.
and we will fall back into republican hell.
three good choices;
-1. legalize marijuana.
-2. end NAFTA (and all other ‘free trade’ agreements) to bring our jobs home.
-3. end age restrictions for medicare; medicare for everyone, paid for by ending the REAGAN-OMICS ‘trickle-down’ tax cuts for the rich. (a national health care system you can get with 51 votes)
OBAMA !! do all three, and the pepole will give you the 60 vote super-majority needed to stop the filibuster, and most likely a second term, and be remembered as a hero of the pepole, like JFK.
bush shredded the constitution and the bill of rights with 51 votes, so no excuses that you don’t have 60 votes yet.
p.s. the repubes are 100% against you, they want you to be a failure,
…and they are making it happen.
-so stop all that bi-partisan bullshit !!
(remember health insurance reform bill ? reppies put in over 200 ammendments, then not one reppie voted for it !!)
That’s an impressive list!
Regiser. Vote. Change things. Share the links.
All the prohibitionist, anti-proposition-19 arguments boil down to “it’s better to put people in jail than to let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.”
The key to success: Register to vote. You’ve got to register well in advance of election day; it only takes five minutes (even if you have to download a form and take it downtown, it’s well worth the effort). All of these links use the usual h t t p : / / w w w prefix:
California:
sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm or to vote by mail
sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
Vermont
vermont-elections.org/elections1/registertovote.html
South Dakota:
sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Arizona:
Voter info:
azsos.gov/election/VoterInformation.htm
Register: azsos.gov/election/voterregistration.htm
Michigan: michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf
Oregon: oregonvotes.org/votreg/vreg.htm
Others: Google your state name and “voter registration.”
College students: You can usually register as a citizen of either your hometown or your college residence town. Share the voter registration info through your student newspaper, twitter, etc.
Everybody: Most states allow early voting and/or vote-by-mail, so once you’re registered, go ahead and request a ballot (at the voter info site for your state). Save a trip to the polls and get it done while you’re thinking about it.
5 minutes. Change the world. Share the links.
GO LADIES GO! If these women lived in the Muslim countries under SHARIA LAW, this blog for the ONE HUNDRED WOMEN would’nt make it to a computer screen.
Spread the love…. Every living thing has a purpose. Grown and raised in Utah with the LDS backround and all. MJ could be serious blessing if we let it. Those who don’t want to use it…. don’t. Please be considerate to the rest of us who have benefited greatly from it! Everyone is different and it if it is not for you than, fine, but, why make GOOD PEOPLE feel and be treated like criminals? If we locked up every good parent and citizen for using MJ, it would be a very angry and sad world. Save our families, our future, and the innocent lives the government allows the police to destroy. LEGALIZE IT!!!
IMHO, there could just as easily be a “Top 500 Women of Cannabis” list. In truth, the number should be innumerable by this point in our history.
Rather than voting anyone off the “Top 100” island, I would recommend that — when the list is expanded — it include the name of Dr. Wendy Chapkis. Dr. Chapkin (U. of Southern Maine) is the co-author (w/ Richard Webb) of “Dying to Get High — Marijuana as Medicine”. This excellent book does a great service in summarizing the history and public policy debate around medical cannabis and in shining a deep and understanding ethnographic light on the Santa Cruz Wo/mens Alliance for Medical Marijuana. Wendy should definitely be on any list, now and in the future.
I think it is just great that women are standing up. If they knew what is good for them, the world would be a much better place.
This list of influential women activists would be sadly incomplete without including Granny Storm Crow. Over the past three years, Granny has researched, organized, created and distributed a wildly comprehensive list of research demonstrating the medical efficacy of cannabis, with links to the published studies. Granny makes this list available, free of charge, over the internet:
https://www.greenpassion.org/index.php?/topic/23575-new-420-page-grannys-mmj-list-july-2010/
Where you stoned when you wrote this article? The name of the Romanian President’s daughter is Elena BASESCU not babescu…
annyway, she’s a member of the E.U. Parliament, so we might get somethin’ out of it!
Seriously, why would someone add Paris Hilton as a “stoner starlet” to this list. It is appalling to think that she would be added as an activist or anything more. That piece of shit should be erased from this planet! She is a horrible role model, if you could call her that, and promotes our culture’s sexist values, umm hello she’s good friends with Joe Francis, oh yeah the guy who started Girls Gone Wild! Doesn’t this go against all of the NORML Women’s Alliance values!
Take Dragon fly d.e.a. la looser off this page, she is an absolute TRAITOR TO THE MOVEMENT AND A GREEDY PROFITEER, among many others who showed their true colors November 2nd 2010 and the weeks leading up to it.
Love the site..Have to say that i am a strong supporter in our state of M.T.We are now facing ‘more strict’ laws in our capitol.I hope to see veryone in Helena on the 3rd.
I just discovered this site. I’m a Medical user in Washington St., but even if I wasn’t, I’d still be using as I have for 40 years. And I add, I had a very successful career going for me, (I’m now disabled), always took care of my business and consider myself to be a good person & citizen. I just saw, on a documentary, a preacher state, “How should anything that causes addiction be legal?” So by that statement we should outlaw cigarettes and alcohol. Sometimes I wonder if we went in that direction it would help the cause. The hypocrisy is rich.
First off I am a woman. I love women stepping forward in this Movement.
Here’s my thing about Skunk’s bit. Did you see the cover? Really, guys? You’re going to talk about the 100 Top Women in Weed with that cover? Really? I looked at the cover and put it down. I followed the link from NORML to see who they listed… which leads me to the question: Exactly what was the criteria for being one of the “top” women in weed? There were a lot of good hard working activists listed along with some great famous folk that will admit to and speak for the legalization of pot. There were also a lot of people who I just said, “Really?” Why, what have they done to be by the likes of those who have changed attitudes and changed laws?
Personally, I felt that it was pandering. I was disappointed.
Margaret mead deserved to be on the list. How can you forget such an influential woman?
Also, as far as celebrities go, why wasn’t sarah silverman included?
I’m glad more women are getting involved. This has been an important step we have been lagging behind on. Women make up more than half the population so we really need your votes, ladies. Don’t be afraid to make your voice heard – fight for freedom!
Men, please talk to the women in your life about this issue and encourage them to take action. We are stronger together.
as for the comment on weeds, it is a show! not reality tv, Mary Louise Parker is a person not her character, she supports this cause and im sure does not carry her character around with her in what she chooses to support. Furthermore, the show is about her selling weed, and dispensaries are taking her customers and profit so naturaly her CHARACTER would make them seem less perferable.
[Editor’s note: Mary Louise Parker, the person, has spoken out in favor of legalization.]
to the “selling sex comment,”
if they were selling sex they would have photos posted of them trying to be sexy, in this cause it is more dominated by men and i think the women’s part of this is trying to get more women involved. i believe that everyone would agree when i say there is nothing sexy about any of the womens section, so stop being a jealous prtentious man:]
UNITED STATES MARIJUANA PARTY SEEKS 2012
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT & VICE-PRESIDENT
——————————————————————————–
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ACTIVISTS,
YOU ARE HEREBY CALLED TO ACTION!
PUBLIC NOTICE TO:
all U.S. Citizens who
care about
ENDING MARIJUANA PROHIBITION,
YOU ARE HEREBY CALLED TO ACTION!
It only takes 1,000 ballot access petition
signatures of registered Voters in the
State of Vermont to put a candidate
for President of the United States of America
on the official election ballot 2012 !!!!!
You do NOT have to be a resident of Vermont
to be on the official election ballot 2012
as a candidate for President or Vice-President
of the United States of America!
USMJP.COM
OR
USMJPARTY.COM
BOTH KNOWN AS THE
“UNITED STATES MARIJUANA PARTY”
(NAME WITH NO TRADEMARK)
CAN PUT A
CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE
“UNITED STATES MARIJUANA PARTY”
ON THE
OFFICIAL ELECTION BALLOT
IN VERMONT 2012!
Vermont Legislature
on the left click on Vermont Statutes online
Click on Title 17 V.S.A.
Scroll down to Chapter 49
Subchapter III
Independent Candidates
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND:
IN THE STATE OF VERMONT,
AN
UN-ORGANIZED
POLITICAL PARTY MAY APPEAR ON
THE OFFICIAL ELECTION BALLOT
UNDER THE RULES
FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES!
“UNITED STATES MARIJUANA PARTY” IS AN
UN-ORGANIZED
POLITICAL PARTY
AND THEREFORE MAY APPEAR ON THE OFFICIAL
ELECTION BALLOT IN VERMONT UNDER THE
RULES BELOW:
NOTE: INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES MAY USE UP TO 3
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS,
APPEARING ON THE BALLOT AS
“UNITED STATES MARIJUANA” PARTY !!!
Section 2401. Applicability of subchapter
A person may be nominated and have his or her name
printed on the general election ballot for any office by
filing a consent similar in form to the consent prescribed by
section 2361 of this title and a statement of nomination with
the secretary of state.
Section 2402. Requisites of statement
(a) A statement of nomination shall contain:
(1) The name of the office for which the nomination is made;
(2) The candidate’s name and residence;
(3) If desired, a name, or other identification
(in not more than three words)
“UNITED STATES MARIJUANA” — the word “Party” is
already on the form —
to be printed on the ballot following the candidate’s name;
(4) in the case of a nomination for president or vice-president of the
United States, the name and state of residence of each candidate
for such office, together with the name, town of residence, and
correct mailing address of each nominee for the office of elector.
The statement shall also be accompanied by a consent form from each
nominee for elector. The consent form shall be similar to the
consent form prescribed in section 2361 of this title.
(b) To constitute a valid nomination, a statement shall contain signatures
of voters qualified to vote in an election for the office in question, equal
in number to at least:
(1) For president and vice-presidential offices, 1,000.
Signatures need not all be contained on one paper.
(c) A statement shall state that each signer is qualified to vote in an
election for the office in question and that the voter’s residence is as set
forth next to his name. Every statement of nomination shall include
the certificate of the town clerk where the signers appear to be voters,
certifying whether the persons whose names appear as signers of the
statement are registered voters in the town. Only those names certified
by the town clerk to be those of registered voters of the town shall count
toward required number of signatures. (This requirement for the town
clerk to check off the names was changed for statewide elections in 2010
so that the Secretary of State, Elections Division had to check off the names
to be certain they were all registered voters of Vermont in 2010.)
(e) The secretary of state shall prescribe and furnish forms for a statement
of nomination. Vermont Secretary of State – Jim Condos
http://www.sec.state.vt.us
Section 2403. Number of candidates; party names
A statement of nomination shall contain the name of only one candidate,
except in the case of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, who
may be nominated by means of the same statement of nomination.
A person shall not sign more than one statement of nomination for the same
office. The political or other name on a statement of nomination shall be substantially
different from the name of any organized political party. It shall also be
substantially different from the political or other name already appearing on any
other statement of nomination for the same office then on file with the
same officer for the same election; if the secretary of state determines that it is not
substantially different, the candidate named on the statement shall select a
different political or other name, otherwise the secretary may reject the statement
of nomination. Except in the case of presidential and vice-presidential candidates,
the word “independent” may not be used as part of a party name; if no party is
indicated, the word “Independent” shall be printed on the ballot, and no candidate
appearing on the ballot as a candidate of a political party shall also appear on the
ballot as an “Independent”.
So, do you understand? In the State of Vermont, an ‘independent’ candidate
may chose up to three descriptive words and appear on the ballot as a party
so long as it is not the name of an “organized” party.
The “United States Marijuana” party (the word party is already on the form)
is NOT an organized party.
Therefore, any U.S. Citizen of age 35 or older may
appear on the 2012 official election ballot in Vermont, after collecting the
required number of petition signatures, as the “United States Marijuana” party,
as a candiate for President and for Vice-President of the United States.
Elections Division
Vermont Secretary of State
26 Terrace Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
(802)828-2464
FAX: 802-828-5171
Hours: 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EAST COAST TIME
Vermont Legislature
The Vermont Statutes Online
Title 17: Elections
Chapter 49: NOMINATIONS
17 V.S.A. § 2401. Applicability of subchapter
§ 2401. Applicability of subchapter
A person may be nominated and have his or her name
printed on the general election ballot for any office by
filing a consent similar in form to the consent prescribed
by section 2361 of this title and a statement of nomination
with the secretary of state. In the case of a nomination
for justice of the peace, the consent form and statement
of nomination shall be filed with the town clerk.
(Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 8; 1995, No. 95 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
The Vermont Statutes Online
Title 17: Elections
Chapter 49: NOMINATIONS
17 V.S.A. § 2402. Requisites of statement
§ 2402. Requisites of statement
(a) A statement of nomination shall contain:
(1) The name of the office for which the nomination is made;
(2) The candidate’s name and residence;
(3) If desired, a name, or other identification (in not more than three words)
to be printed on the ballot following the candidate’s name;
(4) In the case of nomination for president or vice president of the United States,
the name and state of residence of each candidate for such office,
together with the name, town of residence, and correct mailing address
of each nominee for the office of elector. The statement of nomination
shall include certification by the town clerk of each town where the
signers appear to be voters that the persons whose names appear
as signers of the statement are registered voters in the town and
of the total number of valid signers from the town. Only the number
of signers certified by each town clerk shall count toward the
required number of signatures. The statement shall also be
accompanied by a consent form from each nominee for elector.
The consent form shall be similar to the consent form prescribed
in section 2361 of this title.
(b) To constitute a valid nomination, a statement shall contain
signatures of voters qualified to vote in an election for the
office in question, equal in number to at least:
(1) For presidential and vice presidential offices, 1,000;
(2) For state and congressional offices, 500;
(3) For county officers or state senators, 100;
(4) For representative to the general assembly, 50;
(5) For justice of the peace, 30 or one percent of the
legal voters of the municipality, whichever is less.
Signatures need not all be contained on one paper.
(c) A statement shall state that each signer is qualified
to vote in an election for the office in question and that
the voter’s residence is as set forth next to the voter’s name.
(d) A statement of nomination and a completed and signed
consent form shall be filed as set forth in section 2356 of this title.
No public official receiving nominations shall accept a petition
unless a completed and signed consent form is filed at the same time.
(e) The secretary of state shall prescribe and furnish forms
for a statement of nomination. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 30-32; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 9; 1995, No. 95 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2001, No. 83 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 4; 2007, No. 54, § 3; 2007, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 6, 2008; 2009, No. 73 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 7, eff. April 7, 2010; No. 98 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 10, 2010.)
The Vermont Statutes Online
Title 17: Elections
Chapter 49: NOMINATIONS
17 V.S.A. § 2403. Number of candidates; party names
§ 2403. Number of candidates; party names
A statement of nomination shall contain the name of only
one candidate, except in the case of presidential and
vice-presidential candidates, who may be nominated
by means of the same statement of nomination.
A person shall not sign more than one statement
of nomination for the same office. The political or
other name on a statement of nomination shall be
substantially different from the name of any organized
political party. It shall also be substantially different from
the political or other name already appearing on any other
statement of nomination for the same office then on file with
the same officer for the same election; if the secretary
of state determines that it is not substantially different,
the candidate named on the statement shall select a
different political or other name, otherwise the secretary
may reject the statement of nomination. Except in the
case of presidential and vice-presidential candidates,
the word “independent” may not be used as part of a party name;
if no party is indicated, the word “Independent” shall
be printed on the ballot, and no candidate appearing
on the ballot as a candidate of a political party shall
also appear on the ballot as an “Independent.”
(Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979,
No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 33; 1985, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2001, No. 5, § 15.)
USMJP — http://usmjp.com
USMJParty — http://usmjparty.com
UNITED STATES MARIJUANA PARTY
no registered trade name,
not an “organized” political party,
so it qualifies for the Vermont ballot
under the above laws.
Please sign the
Make Marijuana Legal
petition online
MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/ericson/petition.html
Nice write-up about the women of weed. I’m sure there are millions more.
Hello All!!
I’ve read some of the comments and had to take a minute to leave my own because it’s been a very promising day and I’m excited!! I’ve known my entire life that MJ being illegal made no sense. I have been an activist around my peers all my life by accident. I have helped several people around me find relief through MJ that thank me today for the difference I’ve made in their lives. Until going to Oaksterdam all I knew about MJ was just from opinions and theories I had from living and life experiences. My daughter graduated last year and in MAY I finally got to Oaksterdam for some quality cannabis education, and it was like bells and whistles went off!! All the events in my life weren’t for nothing! I’m suppose to be out there doing something to help right a HUGE wrong!! I came back to AZ joined NORML and crazy things have happened since!! WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS!!
This week the NORML Women’s Alliance got their sister to sister program up and running on facebook!!
TODAY there were many posts of sisters chomping at the bit wondering what they could do to help. I posted that I was forming cheer stations for the breast cancer 3day walk here in AZ because all those fund raisers and walkers deserve to know the truths and explained a little about my ideas. OMG!! Within minutes I had all these sisters here letting me know they were with me and would be helping me!! Within TWO hours there was planning going on for cheer stations at the walks in 3 other states!!
OW OW!! I know I am extrememly thankful for the Women’s Alliance!!
Thank you Shelby Sadler and Congrats on making the list!! After today you sure made it on my top kick ass women’s list!! Without you and the Women’s alliance the hope to one day be traveling around to all the 3days to educate all the walkers out there was made possible and I am not having to afford a bunch of traveling expense to do it!! I’m also not doing it by myself!! I hope one day we can meet and I can hug your neck!
It?s really a cool and helpful piece of information. I?m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
WOW it is so exciting to learn that we are not alone in this! Legalizing MJ is one of the MOST important legacies we can leave for our children..the last line between earth / balance and our spiral into darkness.. Miami professional single mom would love to meet other liked-minded. It takes a village to raise a child after all, and a little ganga doesn’t hurt either.
I am a 38 yr. old female with a degree in Psychology and currently working as a Behavior Counselor and I smoke marijuana. I have for 20 years and I have done it responsibly however…if I was caught with the substance in my body or on my person, I would be arrested, ridiculed in my small community, and lose everything I worked so hard for in college. In my work, I have experienced the exhausting and sad chore of assisting others with addictions to meth, cocaine, bath salts, pain killers, alcohol, etc. and I always want to say…”Hey you know what, I bet you could kick those life threatening addictions if you replaced them with marijuana”, but we all know I can not do that. I had an adult client several years ago that was being prescribed a number of different pain killers from various doctors with no checks or balances in effect. The woman had become addicted and was literally a vegtable, one that the government created because the government says “we can give you all these addictive, dangerous drugs but we can not let you smoke marijuana to cure your pain”. My mother is currently on disability for Clinical Depression and takes about 20 different pills a day for various different reasons that make her drowsy, non-functional, dangerous on the road, and the PRESCRIBED DRUGS eat away at her organs especially her liver. Again….I want to say, “hey mom, try this marijuana”. I have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and I finally sought professional help in order to function on a daily basis in this screwed up world, but again….the medication has side effects that cause me other problems instead of curing the original problem. I have tried to quit smoking marijuana due to the law and my chosen profession but I find myself seeking other outlets, most often alcohol. Now I ask you, would you rather me and millions of other people seek comfort in a joint and go on about our daily lives in a completely happy, functional state of mind, or would you rather me join the thousands that drink and drive while you are on the road? No one has ever overdosed or died from marijuana but we have lost thousands directly or indirectly due to the consumption of alcohol… and it’s legal. Despite my GAD and any other normal short comings that many of us possess, I am a highly functioning, educated, contributing individual and I get by with the help of marijuana. WHY IS IT STILL ILLEGAL? When I first joined the “Cannibus smoking community” I was amazed at the number of professional people that smoke marijuana on a daily basis and most people have no idea because we have to hide it. Lawyers, nurses and doctors, dentists, teachers…lots of teachers, bank executives, I could go on and on. Every one of those people are law abiding, contributing citizens and good people but the law says they are criminals if they are caught. Careers would be ruined and then instead of them being contributing citizens, the government is more than happy to place them in jail and spend millions keeping them there. I will wrap up tonights rant by adding that my father committed suicide on October 30, 2011. The most horrible moment in my life. I had people throwing drugs and alcohol at me (them of coarse thinking they were just helping) but what got me through it was the marijuana. I was in a very dark place and smoking a joint here and there helped me crawl out of a very deep pit. Tonight I watched the documentary about NORML and it led me here. What can I do to help legalize what appears to be the closest thing we have to a miracle drug?
Its only a matter of time medical marijuana is more useful in society than alcohol ever was or could ever be. With the recent developments in alternative medicines and treatments, legalizing marijuana is quickly becoming a popular solution. With a few states already reaping the benefits of doing such many other states are keeping a close eye on the developments.
marijuana advocate
I am a resident of Ohio which seems to keep skirting the issue of marijuana reform. We have been told our signatures are not valid, votes have been delayed and NO progress. What can I do as a citizen? I CAN’T EVEN BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE TO BUY FROM ILLEGAL SOURCES, FEEL LIKE A CRIMINAL AND PEE IN A CUP TO BE DENIED A JOB!Yet Ohio is “cracking down” on narcotics because of so many ODs. Oh and the fake marijuana that is legally being sold and killing our kids….ie Spice.It IS time to ORGANIZE not behind our keyboards but real in your face to the feds. Our kids ARE confused about a substance that is everywhere. Yet alcohol is so glamorized. Not everyone can OR wants to drink alcohol. Likewise not everyone will want to use marijuana but it Is time for us as grownup US citizens to choose.
“you forgot one: Anne Green Bridgeport CT; served 18 months Mexican jail for 22 g’s MJ.”
“Colima Mexico 1978-1979” Anna USA 🙂