North Dakota’s Path to Cannabis Legalization:
A 2024 Ballot Possibility

Summary

• Efforts are underway in North Dakota to legalize cannabis, with a potential ballot initiative in the November 2024 elections.
• A group called the New Economic Frontier (NEF) committee is supporting the measure, which would allow adults 21 and over to use marijuana.
• To qualify for the ballot, the initiative needs 15,582 signatures from registered voters by July 8.
• This is not the state’s first attempt at legalization, with previous efforts falling short in 2018 and 2022.
• The current proposal goes beyond possession and outlines a regulated industry.
• Former Bismarck mayor Steve Bakken is heading the sponsoring committee and believes legalization is inevitable.

The road to cannabis legalization in North Dakota may once again approach a critical juncture as voters could witness a ballot initiative during the November 2024 elections. A group of proactive citizens has stepped forward with a petition that could pivot the state toward permitting adults 21 years and over to partake in marijuana use.

In an effort to place this pivotal decision in the hands of voters, the New Economic Frontier (NEF) committee has voiced support for the measure, noting that 15,582 signatures from registered voters are necessary by July 8 for the measure to qualify for the ballot.

This is not North Dakota’s first encounter with the topic of cannabis legalization. Prior attempts in 2018 and 2022 fell short in the elections, leaving advocates assuming a reflective posture on how to gain traction among voters. The current proposal endeavors beyond merely allowing possession of cannabis; it outlines the groundwork for a structured and regulated industry within the state.

Steve Bakken, a prominent figure who has served the community as Bismarck’s former mayor and a current Burleigh County Commissioner, sits at the helm of the initiative’s sponsoring committee. Bakken emphasizes that the tide of legalization is imminent. Advocating for state-led initiatives, he suggests that it’s critical for North Dakota to craft and home-grow its cannabis policy to align with the specificities of local needs and values.

The proposed measure stipulates that the state’s Department of Health and Human Services or another designated agency would administer the licensing of adult-use cannabis ventures. It further details that compassionate centers currently in operation could transition to adult-use businesses, though the measure seeks to cap the number of facilities and prevent large-scale monopolies.

However, the task ahead may prove challenging. Recent polling data seem to indicate a stagnation of public support regarding cannabis legalization, with fewer than fifty percent of registered voters in favor.

The 2024 initiative aims to offer a comprehensive approach to legalization, reflecting on learnings from past legislative endeavors and placing a robust emphasis on regulation and safety. Conditions such as consent for renters to grow plants and daily purchase limits are considerations that aim to mesh the freedom of use with community mindfulness.

Through this approach, supporters argue, North Dakota stands to benefit from a consumer-friendly yet stringently overseen legalization model, setting a precedent for responsible and well-regulated cannabis consumption.

Only time and the ballot box will tell whether North Dakota will join the ranks of states that have embraced legalization, but with heightened organization, advocacy, and a framework tailored to fit the state’s identity, proponents of the initiative hold out hope for change come November 2024.