Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A proponent of legalizing marijuana in North Dakota says the next attempt at a ballot measure will begin shortly after his fellow college students return for classes in the fall.
Dave Owen, of Grand Forks, says the core group of individuals planning on renewing the push for full legalization are finalizing a draft of the proposal.
The group plans to file with the Secretary of State's office in the fall. Once the petition is approved, signatures will be gathered.
Owen said the groups is working with lawyers to make sure the plan doesn't run into the same obstacles as medical marijuana did, when lawmakers this session moved to clean up language they deemed unworkable.
"North Dakota's ready for recreational marijuana," Owen said. "We have to make sure we have an ironclad petition."
The group that originally tried to get a legalization of marijuana measure on the ballot was given approval to circulate petitions for signatures on March 9, 2016. In statute, groups have one year to turn in their signatures. Not enough signatures were gathered in time for the 2016 election.
Supporters in the previous effort had been looking to remove from North Dakota Century Code all references to marijuana and substances deriving from cannabis as being illegal drugs as well as possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
The original measure would have set a legal age of 21 for possession of marijuana, paraphernalia and the growing of it.
This new measure is expected to be similar to what was being circulated before, with one major difference. The group is working to include language expunging non-violent drug offenses related to marijuana from people's criminal records.
"We're wanting to ensure non-violent offenders with pot charges don't have ... records and can't get jobs," Owen said.
In November, 64 percent of voters were in favor of medical marijuana. Owen and other proponents of full legalization point to this as proof of momentum for a 2018 ballot measure.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Legalization of marijuana ballot petition push to start in fall | Government and Politics | bismarcktribune.com
Author: Nick Smith
Contact: Contact Us | Pages | bismarcktribune.com
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe
Website: bismarcktribune.com | Bismarck, North Dakota News
Dave Owen, of Grand Forks, says the core group of individuals planning on renewing the push for full legalization are finalizing a draft of the proposal.
The group plans to file with the Secretary of State's office in the fall. Once the petition is approved, signatures will be gathered.
Owen said the groups is working with lawyers to make sure the plan doesn't run into the same obstacles as medical marijuana did, when lawmakers this session moved to clean up language they deemed unworkable.
"North Dakota's ready for recreational marijuana," Owen said. "We have to make sure we have an ironclad petition."
The group that originally tried to get a legalization of marijuana measure on the ballot was given approval to circulate petitions for signatures on March 9, 2016. In statute, groups have one year to turn in their signatures. Not enough signatures were gathered in time for the 2016 election.
Supporters in the previous effort had been looking to remove from North Dakota Century Code all references to marijuana and substances deriving from cannabis as being illegal drugs as well as possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
The original measure would have set a legal age of 21 for possession of marijuana, paraphernalia and the growing of it.
This new measure is expected to be similar to what was being circulated before, with one major difference. The group is working to include language expunging non-violent drug offenses related to marijuana from people's criminal records.
"We're wanting to ensure non-violent offenders with pot charges don't have ... records and can't get jobs," Owen said.
In November, 64 percent of voters were in favor of medical marijuana. Owen and other proponents of full legalization point to this as proof of momentum for a 2018 ballot measure.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Legalization of marijuana ballot petition push to start in fall | Government and Politics | bismarcktribune.com
Author: Nick Smith
Contact: Contact Us | Pages | bismarcktribune.com
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe
Website: bismarcktribune.com | Bismarck, North Dakota News
