Thomas Christopher Wright (born October 14, 1957) is an American businessman,

cannabis rights Cannabis rights or marijuana rights (sometimes more specifically cannabis consumer rights or stoner rights) are individual Civil rights, civil and human rights that vary by jurisdiction. The rights of people who consume Cannabis (drug), cannabis ...

and

free speech Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The rights, right to freedom of expression has been ...

activist, and frequent candidate for public office. Wright, who co-founded the

Grassroots Party The Grassroots Party was a political third party in the United States established in 1986 to oppose drug prohibition. The party shared many of the progressive values of the Farmer-Labor Party but with an emphasis on cannabis/hemp legalization is ...

in 1986, owns a computer repair shop in

Bloomington, Minnesota Bloomington is a suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, on the north bank of the Minnesota River, above its confluence with the Mississippi River, south of downtown Minneapolis. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 89,987, ma ...

Activism

Chris Wright organized the Minnesota Tea Party, a cannabis rights rally held on the steps of the

Minnesota State Capitol The Minnesota State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Minnesota, in its capital city of Saint Paul. It houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the office of the Attorney General and the office o ...

every September from 1987 to 2013. A political rally and music festival called Grassroots Gathering, organized by Wright in 1992, which was to be held on a private campground near

Ogilvie, Minnesota Ogilvie is a city in Kanabec County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 369 at the 2010 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The Groundhouse River flows nearby. ...

, was cancelled by authorities citing incidents reported at the

Weedstock Weedstock was a cannabis rights music festival in the United States, originally held annually near Madison, Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin from 1988 to 2001. The festival was initiated and organized by Yippie and cannabis activist Ben Masel, and w ...

festival in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

the previous year. Wright was arrested in 1996 for growing 41

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...

plants at his home in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

. He appealed the conviction and lost. Wright argued that under Art. XIII, Sec. 7 of the

Minnesota Constitution The Constitution of the State of Minnesota was initially approved by the residents of Minnesota Territory in a special election held on October 13, 1857, and was ratified by the United States Senate on May 11, 1858, marking the admittance of Minne ...

any person may sell the products of the farm or garden occupied by him without obtaining a license. The

Minnesota Court of Appeals The Minnesota Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It began operating on November 1, 1983. Jurisdiction The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over most appeals from the state trial courts, inclu ...

reasoned that product labeling, and other restrictions established previously, granted police authority to ban cannabis. Wright ran for

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

for

Minnesota's 5th congressional district Minnesota's 5th congressional district is a geographically small urban and suburban congressional district in Minnesota. It covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey countie ...

1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Australian ...

as a Grassroots candidate. In

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...

, Wright was endorsed by the Grassroots Party for

Governor of Minnesota The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. ...

. He got 1,727 votes. In the

2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candi ...

, Wright got 7,516 votes as a Grassroots candidate. In

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

, Wright got 31,259 votes for Governor as a Grassroots—Legalize Cannabis candidate. Wright was nominated by petition to run for Governor of Minnesota in

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

as a Grassroots—Legalize Cannabis Party candidate. In 2022, Chris Wright resigned as chair of G—LC, a post Wright held for years, to seek Minnesota

Legal Marijuana Now Party The Legal Marijuana Now Party is a political Third party (United States), third party in the United States. The party’s platform includes abolishing the Drug Enforcement Administration and legalizing hemp and cannabis (drug), marijuana. As of ...

nomination for Governor. Wright was eliminated in the primary, receiving 48% of the party’s vote. In addition to legalizing drugs, Wright promotes using hydrogen as fuel.

Political candidacy

A founding member of the Grassroots Party in 1986, Chris Wright ran as their candidate, between 1988 and 2010, three times. In 2014, Wright and

Oliver Steinberg Oliver may refer to: Arts, entertainment and literature Books * ''Oliver the Western Engine'', volume 24 in ''The Railway Series'' by Rev. W. Awdry * '' Oliver Twist'', a novel by Charles Dickens Fictional characters * Ariadne Oliver ...

formed the Minnesota Grassroots—Legalize Cannabis Party, and Wright has also run as their candidate several times, including: *United States Representative from Minnesota's 5th Congressional District in

*Governor of Minnesota in

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

, and

*State Senator from Minnesota's 63rd Legislative District in

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

Notes

References

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

(May 17, 1992). "Judge nixes music festival near Ogilvie". '' St. Paul Pioneer Press''. *

(December 23, 1998). "Right to peddle produce doesn't include pot, court rules". ''

Star Tribune The ''Star Tribune'' is the largest newspaper in Minnesota. It originated as the ''Minneapolis Tribune'' in 1867 and the competing ''Minneapolis Daily Star'' in 1920. During the 1930s and 1940s, Minneapolis's competing newspapers were consolida ...

''. * Condon, Patrick (June 21, 2014).
Pot activists light up Minnesota ballot
. ''

''. * Davis, Don (October 4, 2010).
Dayton, Emmer, Horner not only Minnesota governor candidates on ballot
. ''

Grand Forks Herald The ''Grand Forks Herald'' is a daily broadsheet newspaper, established in 1879, published in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It is the primary daily paper for northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Its average daily circulat ...

''. * Donovan, Lisa (August 31, 2000).
Grassroots Party Having Quarrel with City Officials: Security Requests Holding Up Permits For Sept. 16 Rally
. '' St. Paul Pioneer Press''. * Doyle, Pat (May 16, 1992). "Judge blocks large Grassroots fest near Ogilvie". ''

'', p. 1B. * Gilyard, Burl (July 5, 1995). "Doobie Brothers: Grassroots Party members grapple with their budding political clout". ''Twin Cities Reader'', p. 1. * Mosedale, Mike (October 3, 2014).
A crowded field of pot advocates
. ''Politics in Minnesota Capitol Report''. * Pecka, Benjamin (May 10, 2017).
Politicians and citizens implore Minnesotans to legalize marijuana at 420 rally
. ''City College News''. * Pugmire, Tim (September 11, 2014).
Minnesota's candidates for governor divided on marijuana laws
. ''

Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), is a public radio network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, YourClassical MPR and The Current, MPR operates a 46-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest. MPR ha ...

''. * Scheck, Tom (October 21, 2014).
Sharp focus, few votes for Cannabis, Libertarian governor hopefuls
. ''

''.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Chris 1957 births Living people American cannabis activists Free speech activists Grassroots Party politicians People convicted of cannabis offenses Activists from Minnesota American political party founders Candidates in the 2018 United States elections

Activism

Political candidacy

Notes

References

Further reading

External links