North Dakota’s voters will decide in November whether to legalize recreational marijuana, as the initiative has qualified for the ballot, the state’s top election official announced on Monday. This will be another vote on the issue after previous attempts to legalize it were rejected by voters and lawmakers in recent years.
Secretary of State Michael Howe confirmed that nearly 19,000 signatures were accepted to place the measure on the ballot, exceeding the required number. The group behind the initiative, New Economic Frontier, had submitted over 22,000 signatures in early July.
Steve Bakken, a Burleigh County commissioner and former Bismarck mayor leading the effort, argued that law enforcement should focus more on opioids and fentanyl instead of marijuana. He also mentioned that this initiative aims to prevent any out-of-state measures with potentially unmanageable outcomes.
The 20-page proposal would allow people 21 and older to use recreational marijuana at home or on private property if permitted. It also includes regulations for production, processing, and prohibited uses, like in public or in vehicles. The measure would allow home cultivation of marijuana plants.
The measure sets limits on how much marijuana can be bought and possessed, including 1 ounce of dried leaves or flowers, 4 grams of concentrate, 1,500 milligrams of THC in cannabis products, and 300 milligrams in edibles. It also permits various cannabis products like solutions, capsules, patches, and topicals.
In North Dakota, marijuana use by people under 21 is a minor offense, and while recreational use by adults isn’t a crime, possessing marijuana is, with penalties ranging from infractions to misdemeanors. Delivering marijuana is a felony, with more severe penalties in certain situations, like being near a school.
In 2023, over 4,400 people in the state were charged with marijuana use or possession, according to court data.
North Dakota voters approved medical marijuana in 2016 but rejected recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2022. In 2021, the state House of Representatives passed bills to legalize and tax recreational marijuana, but they were defeated in the Senate.
Republican state Rep. Matt Ruby, who helped sponsor the initiative, said the focus now is on educating voters about the economic benefits, better regulation, and easier access to medical marijuana.
“Our goal is to explain why this is a positive step for our state,” Ruby said.
However, the Brighter Future Alliance, a group opposing the measure, criticized supporters for pushing the issue again after previous defeats.
“The people of North Dakota have already said no to recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2022, but here we are again,” said Patrick Finken, the group’s chair.
Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben warned about the negative impacts of legalizing marijuana, citing increased crime, DUIs, and illegal drug trafficking in states where it is legal. He argued that more users lead to more illegal sales, not less.
Currently, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana. Ohio did so in November 2023, and Florida and South Dakota will have measures on their ballots in November.
In May, the federal government began the process of reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.