Grassroots Party
The Grassroots Party (GRP) was a minor leftist political party in the United States, originally focusing on marijuana lagalization, promotion of hemp farming and the establishment of a national system of universal health care, among other social concerns. Originally launched as a Minnesota-based liberal party, the GRP's general ideology, is similar to that of the Greens, but with a much stronger emphasis on marijuana and hemp legalization issues.
In 1996, the GRP won permanent "major party" ballot status in Vermont. The Vermont affiliate was initially more libertarian and "states rights" oriented in philosophy than its sister party in Minnesota. Since 1996, most Minnesota GRP activists changed their affiliation either to the Green Party or the Liberal Party of Minnesota. In 2000, GRP Presidential nominee Denny Lane was on the ballot in only one state and captured just 1,044 votes. In 2002, many of the libertarian-leaning Vermont GRP leaders left for the Libertarian Party, a move that has restored the Vermont faction to largely being a marijuana/hemp legalization party. The remnants of the Minnesota GRP disbanded and merged into the Liberal Party of Minnesota in 2002.
