North Dakota will decide on a ballot measure in November to legalize marijuana. It will be the third time the state will vote on a marijuana legalization initiative.
Burleigh County Commissioner Steve Bakken (R) filed the ballot initiative. He said, “A lot of what we don’t want to see is what’s going on in some of the other states, and we think that this is a measure that fits the conservative nature of North Dakota.” Bakken’s committee sponsoring the initiative is New Economic Frontier. The group reported submitting 22,000 signatures on July 8, 2024. On August 12, 2024, the secretary of state determined 18,964 of the signatures submitted for the initiative were valid. At least 15,582 valid signatures were required.
New Economic Frontier stated, “We believe that legalizing adult-use cannabis is the key to transforming North Dakota. With this, we can unlock economic opportunities for our communities, create new jobs, ensure easier access to medical cannabis, and free up valuable law enforcement resources.”
The initiative would legalize recreational marijuana. Under the measure, individuals could possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana flower, four grams of cannabinoid concentrate, 1,500mg of THC in the form of cannabinoid products, and 300mg of edibles. Individuals would be allowed to grow three plants with a limit of six plants per household.
The measure would require the Department of Health and Human Services or another department or agency designated by the legislature to establish marijuana regulations, including for the production and distribution of marijuana by October 1, 2025. Under the measure, the department could license up to seven cultivation facilities and 18 marijuana retailers.
North Dakota voters rejected a marijuana legalization initiative in 2022, with 55% of voters opposed, and in 2018, with 59% of voters opposed. In 2016, North Dakotans approved Issue 5, which legalized the use of medical marijuana to treat defined debilitating medical conditions, such as cancer, AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, glaucoma, and epilepsy.
The Brighter Future Alliance, which opposes the initiative, said “the people of North Dakota soundly rejected the idea of recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2022, but here they are again.”
As of August 2024, 24 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. In 13 states and D.C., the ballot initiative process was used to legalize marijuana. In two states, the legislature referred a measure to the ballot for voter approval. In nine states, bills to legalize marijuana were enacted into law.
Ohio was the most recent state to legalize marijuana in November 2023 after voters approved Issue 2.
Ballot measures to legalize marijuana for recreational or personal use are also set to appear on the Nov. 2024 ballot in Florida and South Dakota.
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