BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) — Supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana in North Dakota have succeeded in bringing the matter to a public vote in November.
The group, New Approach North Dakota, submitted more than the required 15,582 valid petition signatures to get a measure on the November general election ballot, Secretary of State Al Jaeger announced Monday. Supporters submitted 26,048 signatures, and 23,368 were deemed valid, he said.
The organization’s campaign manager, David Owen, has said the extra signatures show broad support for legalization. Fargo attorney Mark Friese, another New Approach ND member, echoed Owen.
“The support that we were receiving from citizens as they signed it I think is a pretty good indication that we’re going to do just as well in November when the people have a chance to vote on this now,” Friese said.
The New Approach initiative would allow people 21 and older to legally use marijuana at home as well as possess and cultivate restricted amounts of cannabis. Public consumption of marijuana would not allowed under the proposed provision.
The measure would also establish policies to regulate retail stores, cultivators, and other types of marijuana businesses.
A similar effort failed in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hampered the group’s effort at gathering signatures. Friese said he did not think the current effort would need to raise significant additional dollars going into the November election.
“The natural news cycle is going to bring a lot of attention to this. This is an issue that’s been at the forefront of the minds of North Dakota voters for a number of years so I don’t believe a great deal of advertising is going to need to be done – I think the voters are now vested with the opportunity to let folks know that they’d like to have this initiative pass,” Friese said.
Marijuana was a major topic in the Republican-controlled Legislature last year. State representatives brought bills to legalize and tax the drug, but the Senate killed the bills that were passed by the House.
North Dakota voters approved medical marijuana in 2016.
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