BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — North Dakota’s voters will once again decide whether or not they want to legalize recreational marijuana in the upcoming statewide general election.

The North Dakota Secretary of State’s office has received the required signatures to place Initiated Measure 5 on the Tuesday, November 5 ballot. If passed, the measure would allow for the production, processing, and sale of cannabis across the state.

With a lot of passion on both sides of the issue, Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben says it’s important for voters to consider where this is being voted on.

“This is North Dakota,” Leben states, “and we’re used to things a certain way. When voters go to vote, they just need to make sure they know the facts.”

If approved, Leben explained that Initiated Measure 5 would do more than just legalize the sale of the drug — it would also place regulations on how the plant can be grown and produced. The state would also regulate the sale of cannabis.

Like many other states, North Dakota could impose a tax on marijuana sales. This is why Sheriff Leben says voters should consider all of the ramifications before voting on the measure.

“I think when we look at legalization,” he states, “one of my concerns is that we already got a lot of legalized substances in our society that cause problems, and the people get to decide if we add one more.”

Sheriff Leben explains that one of the issues for law enforcement, if the measure were to pass, would be the regulation of legally sold marijuana. He says that law enforcement in states where it is permitted has had to deal with people who sell unregulated cannabis on the black market to avoid paying taxes.

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