North Dakota voters faced cannabis on the ballot once again this year, deciding alongside Florida and South Dakota whether to legalize it this election cycle. The state has shot down two past measures on the matter in 2018 and 2022, not to mention a bill losing in the house in 2021. Now, it appears to be a hat trick with Measure 5.
Measure 5 sought to legalize recreational cannabis for those over 21 to use on private property and outlined numerous regulations. It also highlighted prohibited uses like public consumption and in-vehicle bans and opened the door for home grow.
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If it had passed, the measure would have legalized the purchase and possession of one ounce of flower, four grams of extracts, 300 milligrams (mg) of edibles, and 1500 mg of THC in total. It spelled out that it would open the door for up to seven marijuana manufacturing operations and 18 dispensaries.
That is moot, however, as it appears to have been defeated, according to AP News. The close race shows 53 percent of voters against its passage and only 47 percent voting yes. Supporters say the measure would allow law enforcement to focus limited resources on more important issues, such as fentanyl. Opponents say marijuana has harmful physiological and societal effects.
The pro-pot campaign happened thanks to New Economic Frontier, a group hoping to legalize the plant for economic growth and public safety in the state. The group submitted more than 22,000 signatures, sponsoring committee chairman Steve Bakken said.
“A lot of what we don’t want to see is what’s going on in some of the other states, and we think that this is a measure that fits the conservative nature of North Dakota,” Bakken told reporters.
Unfortunately for the advocacy group, another legalization fail is in the books for North Dakota. North Dakotans looking for weed will need to travel east to Minnesota, or perhaps to its southern Dakota counterpart, until the next election cycle. Legalization is not in the cards this time.
