North Dakotans may see recreational cannabis initiative on November ballot

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Supporters of legalizing adult-use marijuana in North Dakota submitted nearly 19,000 signatures to state officials, which was significantly more than the 13,500 needed to get the measure on the November ballot.

The initiative would remove marijuana from the controlled substances list, making the plant legal for people 21 years and older, The Bismarck Tribune reported. The proposal doesn’t provide details on how the program should be implemented.

The North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office still must review the signatures and make a final determination on ballot eligibility, a process that is expected to take about a month.

In 2016, North Dakota voters passed a medical marijuana initiative by a margin of 64% to 36%.

The adult-use initiative in North Dakota, if approved for the November ballot, is likely to see a much closer vote.

A poll commissioned by proponent ND Legalization Initiative recently found that state voters favor the rec MJ measure by only a 46% to 39% margin, with 15% undecided.

The state’s MMJ program, expected to launch late this year, is projected to generate less than $500,000 in sales by year-end, according to Marijuana Business Factbook 2018.

Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily