Drug policy reform, smaller government and combating childhood obesity are just a few issues libertarian vice presidential candidate, Judge Jim Gray, will touch on during his multi-state tour.

And Washington is among the first few states he’ll visit this weekend, with stops in Seattle, Kirkland and Spokane.

Gray said in a phone interview that there is an increasing amount of libertarians in Washington.

“I tell libertarians ‘for us to sit together, we must discuss the issues with everyone,’” said Gray.

But his main reason for the visit this weekend is to be a panel guest and give a speech Saturday at Seattle’s 21st Hempfest, specifically about Washington’s Initiative 502 marijuana reform. Gray supports the initiative.

Then on Sunday, Aug. 19 from 3-6 p.m., Gray plans to visit Kirkland’s Everest Park Shelter for a barbecue with members of the libertarian party and a chance to speak with the public.

“At some point around the middle of the event, Judge Gray will speak briefly and open the floor to questions, and throughout the event he will be available for conversation,” said Kyra Sands, Gray’s schedule liaison.

News broke Thursday that the Washington Libertarian Party filed a lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court contending that the Republicans are no longer a major political party in Washington state. According to state law, a political party must nominate a candidate for state-wide office, in an even year general election, and receive at least 5 percent of the vote.

They hope to block Mitt Romney from the November ballot on grounds that Republican Dino Rossi was never formally nominated by the Republican party during the 2010 U.S. Senate election. Rossi received 48 percent of the vote in 2010.

According to Sands, John Mills, the libertarian who filed the Thurston County lawsuit against the GOP will attend the Kirkland barbecue.

“Since the Judge will be spending Saturday at Hempfest, we wanted the Sunday BBQ to be on the Eastside,” said Sands in an email. “We know Kirkland and like it very much.”

Gray explained he believes his party is “in the mainstream” because the Libertarian Party’s stance on social tolerance comes from the ‘left’ but the financially responsible side is more conservative.

Gray is vice presidential candidate to former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico form 1995-2003. Gray believes that as long as they get into the presidential debate they could have a huge advantage.

For more information on Judge Jim Gray, please visit www.judgejimgray.com