Cannabis political parties
Cannabis political parties are generally single-issue political organizations, operating in nations and principalities around the globe, that exist to oppose laws against cannabis consumers.
Cannabis party politicians are elected officeholders in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Persistent state campaigns of marijuana party candidates have been influential driving progress of 2020s United States cannabis law reform.
Australia
In the 1970s, J.J. McRoach ran for parliament as candidate for the Australian Marijuana Party. He had an advertising campaign funded by an anonymous dealer. His party came fourth in the elections.In 1986 Nick Brash ran for the "Marijuana Party" for the Kiama NSW by-election against ALP heavy-weight Bob "Bobo" Harrison. Then in 1987 Nick Brash ran in the Heathcote NSW by-election with 13 other candidates including the infamous Rex "Buckets" Jackson. This campaign was partly funded by the late John Marsden, solicitor and outspoken civil libertarian. In the 1988 NSW State Election he joined Macciza Macpherson in running for the Legislative Council Soon after, the electoral laws were changed requiring all political parties to prove a membership of 500 enrolled voters, an impossible task for the Marijuana Party.
Legalise Cannabis Australia continues to run in the upper house in South Australian state elections, with their best result being in 1997 when they received 1.7% of the vote, beating relatively popular parties such as the SA Greens and the SA branch of the National Party of Australia. Leader of the Australian Greens party Adam Bandt has also endorsed an open-minded attitude to recreational use of cannabis.
The Hemp Party was founded in 1993 and has a constitution, which describes an organisation with the aim of endorsing candidates to contest elections to the Federal Parliament of Australia. The HEMP Party was first registered in 2000, and then de-registered in 2006 under Schedule 3 of the Electoral and Referendum Amendment Act 2006. During that time candidates stood in state and federal elections. Since that time it has been difficult to prove a membership of 500, as members contacted by the AEC sometimes disavowed membership, or had changed address without notifying the Party or the AEC.
Several applications later the AEC has assessed the party as meeting the test of being a political party under s4 of the Electoral Act. On 17 June 2010 the delegate determined that the party's application had passed its initial consideration for registration and the application was advertised for public objection on 23 June 2010. The issue of writs on 19 July 2010 for the federal elections meant that no further action could be taken on this application until the final return of all outstanding writs on 17 September 2010. No objections to the registration of the HEMP Party were received. The AEC assessed the party's application against the technical requirements in s126 of the Electoral Act. The application meets the technical requirements in s126. The delegate of the Australian Electoral Commission determined that the HEMP Party should therefore be registered under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.
In 2013, the Drug Law Reform Party successfully registered with the Australian Electoral Commission, with over 500 members as required. Although the party represented the liberalisation of drug laws in general, cannabis was a primary focus. The party officially deregistered on 31 July 2017.
The Legalise Marijuana Party has applied for registration with the VEC in the lead-up to the 2022 Victorian state election. Legalise Cannabis Australia has questioned the party's legitimacy, noting that the party has no website or list of public policies.
Queensland
The Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party was established in the state of Queensland in September 2020.Western Australia
The Legalise Cannabis Western Australia Party was founded in June 2020 in the state of Western Australia. It won two seats on the Western Australian Legislative Council in the March 2021 election.Canada
In Canada, the Marijuana Party of Canada was launched by Marc-Boris St-Maurice in February 2000. Even after the legalisation of cannabis in Canada in 2018, the Marijuana Party is still politically active due to criticisms it has with some of Canada's cannabis laws and subsequently fights for legal reforms and the rights of cannabis users. The party is seen as a follow-up to the Québécois Bloc pot, in order to work at the federal level. There are also other party organizations at the provincial level. The Liberal Party of Canada were the main party responsible for Canada's legalization of cannabis.British Columbia
In British Columbia, the British Columbia Marijuana Party works independently from the Marijuana Party of Canada.Quebec
In Quebec, the Bloc pot, created by Marc-Boris St-Maurice, ran their first election campaign in 1998. In February 2000, St-Maurice launched the Marijuana Party of Canada, which ran 73 candidates in the 2000 federal election. Bloc pot is now the provincial counterpart of the Marijuana Party of Canada.Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Marijuana Party functions in a politically independent fashion, and does not hold any formal association to any other political organizations federally or provincially. On April 20 of 2006, the party submitted their petition of registration to elections Saskatchewan. The petition was successful and the party was fully registered as a political party in the province of Saskatchewan as of 7 June 2006.The party leader is currently Nathan Holowaty. Holowaty has referred to himself as a socially responsible libertarian and believes in the fullscale legalization of cannabis. Holowaty has a degree in political studies from the University of Saskatchewan.
Denmark
Political parties in Folketinget, which is the Danish parliament, who wants to legalize cannabis:Liberal Alliance are in favor of cannabis legalization. This is the case for both medical and recreational. "I want a state regulated sale of cannabis, like the state regulates alcohol and cigarettes. That way, we have a better control of which drugs are on the market, and that they aren't sold to kids." - Christina Egelund.
Alternativet are in favor of cannabis legalization. This is the case for both medical and recreational. "This is a great way to take a stand against criminal gangs, decriminalize normal Danes and to secure that there aren't any dangerous chemicals added." - Josephine Fock.
Socialist People's Party are in factor of a regulated legalization of cannabis. "Today, some people smoke way too much cannabis and get problems, but we doesn't help them by punishing them, when they in reality need help. We should treat cannabis like alcohol, and focus on the ones, who get addicted." - Lisbeth Bech Poulsen.
After the incident at Freetown Christiania, where the police destroyed all the stalls, and cleared them of cannabis, the Danish Social Liberal Party have chanced stance on this issue. They now want a three-year trial, where you can buy state regulated cannabis across the country.
Red–Green Alliance wants to legalize cannabis sold and produced by the state. "It will secure that criminals can't make money off the import, nor make money off the illegal sale of cannabis. The money, the state makes off the sale, shall be used on information, treatment for the addicts and welfare benefits, instead of giving the money to the criminals" - Rune Lund.
The Hampepartiet was formed in 2001.
Finland
Finland's Hamppupuolue was founded in 2022, and was added to state's register of political parties on 28th May 2025.France
In France, the party Cannabis Sans Frontière led by Farid Ghehiouèche has run in several elections.Greece
As of 2015, there have been ongoing attempts for the establishment of the Cannabis Party of Greece, but they haven't resulted in the creation of a registered political party yet.Ireland
In Ireland, there were attempts to establish a Cannabis legalisation Party however the government have so far refused to allow any such parties to be registered. A number of individuals including journalist Olaf Tyaransen and Phoenix Park festival organiser Ubi Dwyer have stood in various elections as independent candidates on a legalise cannabis platform. The only success to date has been the election of Luke 'Ming' Flanagan to The Dáil in the 2011 general election although it is generally accepted that Flannigan's success was also mainly due to his stance on other political issues.The Irish political party, People Before Profit, support the legalisation of cannabis for medical and general use. The party has stated that it would, "legislate for the use of medicinal cannabis for pain management of chronic conditions" and medical cannabis be "researched and made available as an evidence-based option for health care providers and patients". As well as stating that it wants the "non-commercialised legalisation of cannabis to be regulated by a new state body and dispensed via designated stores".
Israel
In Israel, the Ale Yarok party participated in the past six elections and came close to winning a Knesset seat.Kenya
In Kenya the Roots party by Prof. George Wajakoya enacted a bill to legalize marijuana for export, medicinal and recreational purpose.New Zealand
In New Zealand, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party ran for the first time in 1996. They have never had any Members of Parliament, but have averaged around 1% of the popular vote - one fifth of what is necessary to gain MPs under New Zealand's proportional representation system. A former member, Nándor Tánczos, was an MP as part of the New Zealand Green Party.. The party had candidates in the 2008 general election.The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand said that if it formed a government in the 2017 election it would legalise cannabis. "Under its proposal, people would be able to legally grow and possess marijuana for personal use". The party said it would also "urgently amend the law so sick people using medicinal marijuana were not penalised". The party negotiated its involvement in the Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand, which included securing a referendum on the legalisation of cannabis in New Zealand. The legalisation of cannabis in New Zealand was narrowly rejected in the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum.
The former leader of the ACT Party Don Brash has spoken out in favour of decriminalizing cannabis.