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BISMARCK — A measure to legalize marijuana use for adults 21 and over in North Dakota may be decided by voters in the November election.
A group of 27 North Dakotans filed a 2024 ballot measure petition to legalize adult-use cannabis in North Dakota on Tuesday, April 16. The proposal would allow adults 21 and older to possess small amounts of cannabis and purchase products from registered cannabis establishments in the state.
To qualify for the November ballot, 15,582 signatures must be gathered from eligible North Dakota voters by July 8.
A committee called the New Economic Frontier, which is sponsoring the measure, said in a release Tuesday that the measure would help lessen the burden on the criminal justice system and promote economic growth in the state.
The Secretary of State and Attorney General will now draft a petition title. The petition title will be provided to the sponsoring committee no earlier than Tuesday, April 23, nor later than Thursday, April 25.
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“Cannabis legalization is coming, and it’s coming fast. We’ve got a choice here – let out-of-state interests call the shots, or take the lead ourselves,” said Steve Bakken, New Economic Frontier chair, former Bismarck mayor and radio host. “We’ve carefully crafted this initiative right here in North Dakota, making sure it fits what our community really needs. Let’s embrace this opportunity the North Dakota way, with common sense and local input guiding the way.”
According to New Economic Frontier, the United States cannabis industry is projecting $38.4 billion in revenue in 2024, and the industry supports 400,000 jobs. The legalized cannabis industry increases tax revenue, providing funding for local schools, organizations and programs, in small and large communities. Legalization also stimulates economic development and diversifies income streams, contributing to long-term prosperity for North Dakota, the committee said.
Proponents of legalizing adult-use cannabis also say legalization allows law enforcement to focus on serious or violent crimes, enhancing public safety and saving taxpayer money.
“As an attorney, former police officer, and lifelong resident of North Dakota, I have seen how criminalizing cannabis drains resources from law enforcement and clogs our courts,” said Mark Friese, a Fargo-based criminal defense attorney who is backing the bill. “This measure is a conservative and sensible approach to legalization that I am confident will benefit our state.”
According to the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, unlike other illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine, “violence associated with cannabis cultivation” is rare.
Others have argued legalization helps remove obstacles for veterans and individuals with medical conditions who cannot access medical marijuana. It is also a way to ensure cannabis products are regulated, undergoing thorough testing for potency and screening for contaminants.
“I’ve seen how medical marijuana can help North Dakotans battling things like cancer, anxiety, and chronic pain,” Casey Neumann, CEO of local businesses Pure Dakota and Pure Dakota Health said. “This makes it easier for our neighbors to access cannabis for their medicinal needs but it also will benefit our state as a whole through its taxation. The positive economic impact alone is a key reason why all North Dakotans should vote yes. Legalizing cannabis paves the way for a more prosperous future for our state.”
North Dakota has taken steps toward the legalization of cannabis. In 2016, North Dakota voters approved Measure 5, which allows for a medical cannabis program in the state. In 2017, the state Legislature passed changes to Measure 5 and removed a provision that would have allowed medical users to grow marijuana.
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In 2019, Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation that reduced marijuana possession penalties. Ingesting any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of $1,500. Possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana is a criminal infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
Previous efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota failed in 2018 and 2022, with the proposals garnering 41% and 45% approval, respectively.
In 2023, recreational cannabis became legal in Minnesota, where adults 21 and older are allowed to cultivate, carry, and smoke marijuana flowers.
