Tim Davis

Timothy A. Davis (born September 24, 1955) is an American cannabis rights activist, cyclist, gardener, politician, writer, retired warehouse laborer, and disc jockey. A founding member of the Grassroots Party in 1986, Davis was their candidate for Minnesota Lieutenant Governor in 1994, and United States Senator in 1996 and 2012.

1980s–1990s activism

Radio disc jockey career After earning a broadcasting degree from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Davis worked as a disc jockey at WWTC-AM, in Minneapolis, from 1985 to 1986.

Grassroots Party Davis, a founding member of the Minnesota Grassroots Party, in 1986, had a role in the fight in 1988 to get the Grassroots Party into a booth in the coliseum at the Minnesota State Fair, which was staffed by volunteers during the 1990s. Davis was Grassroots Party chair throughout the 1990s, and was the party’s candidate for State Representative (District 59B) in 1990, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor in 1994, and United States Senator in 1996.

Minnesota NORML Davis led the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws for over a decade, from the late 1980s until 2000s.

2000s–2010s activism Minnesota Greens In 2002, Davis ran for U.S. Congress from District 5 as the Green Party candidate and received 17,800 votes. His campaign included reducing government military spending in order to raise public education funding, and removing influences corporations have over universities. Davis worked in the campaigns for Ralph Nader in 2000, and 2004.

Second U.S. Senate candidacy Davis was the Grassroots Party nominee for United States Senator in 2012 and received 30,531 votes.

2020s activism Legal Marijuana Now Party From 2020 through 2023, Davis served as chairperson of the Legal Marijuana Now Party Minnesota chapter. Legal Marijuana Now! candidate Adam Weeks, who was on the ballot in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, died four weeks before November 3, throwing the 2020 general election into chaos because a Minnesota state law said that if a major party candidate died during an election campaign a special election would be held. Federal judges ruled that the election should go ahead despite state law, so the name of the candidate who was nominated to replace Weeks by Legal Marijuana Now! Party was not on the ballot. Davis stated in a court filing that the ruling would disenfranchise Legal Marijuana Now! Party voters, and later encouraged party supporters to cast their votes for the dead candidate, Weeks, in memoriam. Weeks got almost six percent of votes cast, in the three-way race. Davis told Minnesota Public Radio that Legal Marijuana Now! Party intended to run candidates for state and federal offices in 2022.

Davis was 2022 Legal Marijuana Now! Minnesota State Auditor nominee. To qualify and receive a share of Minnesota's elections funding intended to help regular Minnesotans run for office, Davis met a $6000 fundraising requirement before the summer deadline, reporting all income and expenditures with public transparency. Davis used the $28,000 Minnesota subsidy to print and distribute pro-marijuana legalization campaign fliers door to door, across the state. Incumbent Democratic State Auditor Julie Blaha disapproved of Davis' brochures and website because in addition to promoting cannabis law reform his campaign material criticized Blaha's involvement in a car crash, alleging a DFL coverup of Blaha's alcohol use being a contributing factor in the one vehicle rollover. Blaha would have gotten another $28,000 from the fund in 2022, on top of the $56,000 public money already used by her campaign, if Davis had not claimed his portion of the funding. Davis told a reporter that he believes America's two-party system offers an "illusion of choice," going on to say, "We're being taken advantage of by Republicans and Democrats. ... Both Republicans and Democrats have tried to limit the number of people voting ... and who can run in third parties." Davis received 87,386 votes in the November 2022 State Auditor election, shy of the 5% threshold to major party status needed for 2026 Legal Marijuana Now! Party ballot access.

Political views Davis voted Socialist in his first US presidential election, in 1976.

Personal life High school student council mayor, Davis, graduated from Roosevelt High School, in St. Louis, and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Davis, a retired warehouse laborer, worked as a St. Louis radio disc jockey during the 1970s―1980s. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his life partner Mary.

Political candidacy Davis has run as a Grassroots, Green, and Legal Marijuana Now candidate several times for various offices, including: Minnesota State Representative, Legislative District 59B, in 1990 Minnesota Lieutenant Governor in 1994 United States Senator in 1996, and 2012 United States Representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district in 2002 Minnesota State Auditor in 2022

Writings Davis has written letters and editorials for several publications, including “US Elects President Who Smoked Marijuana” published in 1993 in The Canvas, the Minnesota Grassroots Party newsletter. During the US presidential election in the spring of 1996, Davis wrote, edited, and produced the last issue of GRP’s The Canvas, Volume V, Number 2, with the front page headline “Medical Cannabis Hero and Presidential Candidate Dennis Peron Comes to MayDay Parade on May 5th.”