For the third time in six years, North Dakota voters will consider whether to legalize adult-use marijuana.
State elections officials on Monday approved the recreational cannabis legalization measure to appear on the in November ballot, the Associated Press reported.
If passed, the statutory measure will allow existing medical marijuana businesses to sell recreational products.
Though medical marijuana was a winner with the state’s voters in 2016, they rejected adult-use legalization in 2018 and 2022, the last time by a decisive 55%-45% margin.
Undaunted, campaign organization New Economic Frontier collected more than 19,000 valid signatures from registered voters this year – several thousand more than required, according to the Associated Press.
If passed, regulated adult-use cannabis sales would begin by Oct. 1, 2025.
However, consistent with campaign promises to create a “highly regulated” framework, an adult-use industry in North Dakota would be subject to strict licensing caps, such as:
- 18 marijuana stores statewide.
- 7 manufacturing facilities.
Vertically integrated businesses would be limited to one manufacturing facility – a combination of cultivation and processing – and no more than four stores in the state.
Competition also would be limited, with owners permitted no more than one store within 20 miles of another retailer.
The campaign thus far has raised $226,309.10 in contributions, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
All recorded donors are existing MMJ companies, according to records.
The top donor is Pure Dakota, which operates dispensaries in Bismarck and Fargo, with $186,309.10 in cash and in-kind contributions.
A local affiliate of New York-headquartered multistate operator Curaleaf Holdings contributed $40,000.
The failed effort in 2022 raised $612,000 in contributions, according to state records.
