Marijuana legalization is the fifth North Dakota ballot question

(The Center Square) – North Dakota voters now have five ballot questions to decide in the Nov. 5 election.

Secretary of State Michael Howe said supporters of a measure to legalize marijuana gathered enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot. 

The state requires 15,582, which is 2% of the last Census count. New Economic Frontier submitted 22,384, and only 3,420 were invalid, according to a news release from Howe.

If approved by voters, adults over 21 could use cannabis products legally at home. The possession limits are up to 1 ounce of cannabis, four grams of concentrate and 300 milligrams in edibles, according to the group’s website. A person over 21 could grow three plants. Households are limited to six plants, according to the ballot question.

“Our goal now is to educate voters on why we believe this to be a great step forward for our state,” said Rep. Matt Ruby, R-Minot, who is a member of the sponsoring committee. “We’re focusing on three key areas: economic growth, more effective regulation, and less barriers to medical cannabis.”

Four other questions will also be on the ballot. 

• Measure 1 would remove language such as “insane” and “feeble minded” when referring to North Dakotans with mental illness or developmental disabilities. The North Dakota Legislature unanimously backed the proposed amendment.
• Measure 2 would increase the number of signatures needed to get a measure on the ballot from 4% of registered voters to 5% and limit questions to a single subject.
• Measure 3 places limits on withdrawals from the state’s Legacy Fund.Measure 4 would let voters decide if they want to ban cities and counties from levying property taxes. The only exception is tax levies for bonded indebtedness.

• By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square