Our History
We were originally founded September 6, 2014 as the Indiana Marijuana Party, by Thomas Keister and USMJP National Organizer & Kentucky Marijuana Party Chair Sheree Krider. From September to December 2014, Keister served as Probationary Chapter Administrator, assuming the role of Chairman when the IMP was granted full chapter status in the USMJP. On January 1, 2015, Keister announced he was running for President of the United States, and was actively seeking the USMJP nomination.
After spending nearly four months as default front-runner (being the only announced USMJP candidate), controversy erupted over the posting of a candidate profile and miscommunication that followed, an arbitrary decision was made on May 4, 2015 by the USMJP National Chairman to strip Keister and the Indiana Marijuana Party of USMJP sanctioning, reversed on appeal after discussion with Keister later that same day.
After taking some time to think about the situation, however, Keister was wholly dissatisfied with the way the USMJP had acted in the situation, and the disjointed, unprofessional, and stagnant organizational structure that existed. It was with that in mind that Keister and the IMP officially seceded from the U.S. Marijuana Party on his own terms on May 6, 2015, changing the name of the Indiana Marijuana Party to its current American Marijuana Party.
In the nearly the year and a half between the AMP's launch and the 2016 General Election, American Marijuana Party Presidential nominee Thomas Keister earned a reputation as a thoughtful, articulate, and prepared interview subject in international print, Internet, podcast, and radio interviews, as well as for the effective social media campaign that had first earned him national attention.
After spending nearly four months as default front-runner (being the only announced USMJP candidate), controversy erupted over the posting of a candidate profile and miscommunication that followed, an arbitrary decision was made on May 4, 2015 by the USMJP National Chairman to strip Keister and the Indiana Marijuana Party of USMJP sanctioning, reversed on appeal after discussion with Keister later that same day.
After taking some time to think about the situation, however, Keister was wholly dissatisfied with the way the USMJP had acted in the situation, and the disjointed, unprofessional, and stagnant organizational structure that existed. It was with that in mind that Keister and the IMP officially seceded from the U.S. Marijuana Party on his own terms on May 6, 2015, changing the name of the Indiana Marijuana Party to its current American Marijuana Party.
In the nearly the year and a half between the AMP's launch and the 2016 General Election, American Marijuana Party Presidential nominee Thomas Keister earned a reputation as a thoughtful, articulate, and prepared interview subject in international print, Internet, podcast, and radio interviews, as well as for the effective social media campaign that had first earned him national attention.
Mission Statement of the American Marijuana Party
WE HEREBY SUBMIT:
We will work as an informational clearinghouse for all citizens and activists and give direction to the proper entities for any issue upon request.
We will have a basic platform. Certain issues are of particular importance but will not limit the scope of our work.
The American Marijuana Party is a non-government organization (NGO) owned by Thomas Keister, L.L.C.
We will maintain a website for the purpose of this organization. It is a privately maintained website which currently does not sell products of its own.
We will make contact with our lawmakers and other government officials as activists for the citizens of the United States and help push for legislation which meets the state’s needs as we see them.
We will interact with all other activist organizations to further the common good.
We will nominate and advance candidates for public office at the city, county, state, or federal level when possible.
MISSION STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN MARIJUANA PARTY
We demand an end to the war on productive and otherwise law abiding citizens by an overreaching federal government, waged presumably in our best interest.
We demand the release of all people imprisoned on marijuana charges and that their criminal records be expunged, and that all property seized in marijuana raids be returned to the rightful owners immediately.
We demand that our law enforcement officers make more efficient use of our tax dollars and use the resources they have at their disposal to go after violent criminals and crimes with actual victims.
The AMP seeks to remove all penalties for adults 21 and over who choose to responsibly consume cannabis, less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco, both of which are legal and responsible for thousands of deaths per year. Cannabis has never caused one.
We demand the right to grow marijuana for personal consumption, just as alcohol can be brewed at home legally so long as it is not sold untaxed.
We demand the right to use any medication our healthcare providers and we deem fit without government interference.
Adopted and enacted March 1, 2015, revised May 6, 2015. Adapted in parts by Thomas Keister with permission from Kentucky Marijuana Party Mission Statement by Sheree Krider.
We will work as an informational clearinghouse for all citizens and activists and give direction to the proper entities for any issue upon request.
We will have a basic platform. Certain issues are of particular importance but will not limit the scope of our work.
The American Marijuana Party is a non-government organization (NGO) owned by Thomas Keister, L.L.C.
We will maintain a website for the purpose of this organization. It is a privately maintained website which currently does not sell products of its own.
We will make contact with our lawmakers and other government officials as activists for the citizens of the United States and help push for legislation which meets the state’s needs as we see them.
We will interact with all other activist organizations to further the common good.
We will nominate and advance candidates for public office at the city, county, state, or federal level when possible.
MISSION STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN MARIJUANA PARTY
We demand an end to the war on productive and otherwise law abiding citizens by an overreaching federal government, waged presumably in our best interest.
We demand the release of all people imprisoned on marijuana charges and that their criminal records be expunged, and that all property seized in marijuana raids be returned to the rightful owners immediately.
We demand that our law enforcement officers make more efficient use of our tax dollars and use the resources they have at their disposal to go after violent criminals and crimes with actual victims.
The AMP seeks to remove all penalties for adults 21 and over who choose to responsibly consume cannabis, less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco, both of which are legal and responsible for thousands of deaths per year. Cannabis has never caused one.
We demand the right to grow marijuana for personal consumption, just as alcohol can be brewed at home legally so long as it is not sold untaxed.
We demand the right to use any medication our healthcare providers and we deem fit without government interference.
Adopted and enacted March 1, 2015, revised May 6, 2015. Adapted in parts by Thomas Keister with permission from Kentucky Marijuana Party Mission Statement by Sheree Krider.