North Dakota to Vote Again on Recreational Pot

A ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota has been approved for the November election, according to Secretary of State Michael Howe. The initiative, put forth by the group New Economic Frontier, successfully gathered nearly 19,000 verified signatures, exceeding the required number. This follows previous unsuccessful attempts to legalize recreational cannabis in the state.

The measure, backed by leaders like Burleigh County Commissioner Steve Bakken, aims to redirect law enforcement resources toward more pressing issues like opioids. It also seeks to prevent potentially problematic out-of-state initiatives. If passed, the measure would permit individuals aged 21 and over to use marijuana in private settings and legally cultivate plants at home. However, it imposes strict limits on the amount of marijuana that can be purchased and possessed.

Recreational marijuana use remains contentious in North Dakota, with past efforts failing in 2018 and 2022. While medical marijuana was approved in 2016, state lawmakers passed recreational legalization bills in 2021 that were later rejected by the Senate. Opponents, including the Brighter Future Alliance, argue that the repeated push for legalization disregards previous voter decisions. As of now, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, with recent approvals in Ohio and upcoming ballots in Florida and South Dakota. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)