North Dakotans File Legal Marijuana Petition, 'Cannabis Legalization Is Coming, And It's Coming Fast'

A group of 27 North Dakotans filed a 2024 ballot measure petition Tuesday to legalize adult-use cannabis. 

What happened: A cannabis advocacy committee, New Economic Frontier, is sponsoring the measure that would allow adults 21 and older to legally use and purchase marijuana for recreational purposes.

The measure needs to collect 15,582 valid signatures by July 8th to qualify for the November 2024 ballot. 

"Cannabis legalization is coming, and it's coming fast," said a New Economic Frontier chair Steve Bakken in a statement. "We've got a choice here – let out-of-state interests call the shots, or take the lead ourselves,” “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."  Bakken, a radio host, is Burleigh County Commissioner and the former mayor of Bismarck.

Why it matters: The sponsoring committee stressed that the measure would help boost the state's economy, but also free up law enforcement to concentrate on other issues like serious or violent crimes. 

"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. “This measure is a conservative and sensible approach to legalization that I am confident will benefit our state."

Among other benefits of cannabis legalization, New Economic Frontier pointed out that marijuana products will be regulated and therefore much safer for consumers, and that the reform would make medical marijuana more accessible to veterans and individuals with various health conditions. 

Last year, Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed a bill from Rep. Mary Schneider (D) that allows hospice care patients to self-certify as medical cannabis patients. 

Previous efforts to legalize recreational cannabis use in the state have failed. 

What's next: The Secretary of State and Attorney General will now create a petition title and provide it to the sponsoring committee no later than April 25th. 

Now read: The Court Case That Could Change The Cannabis Industry Forever And How It Affects Rescheduling

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