Politics
New Ad Highlights Marijuana Market’s Economic Potential For North Dakota As Voters Decide On Legalization Ballot Measure
With Election Day a little more than a week away, North Dakota activists are looking to shore up as much support as they can for a measure to legalize marijuana that will appear on the ballot, with a new ad emphasizing the revenue the state is missing out on as its neighbors build up their cannabis markets.
New Economic Frontier, the campaign behind the marijuana measure, also put out an email blast promoting the ad, information about other potential benefits of the reform and a call to action for supporters to spread the message ahead of the election.
“Would you throw away millions of dollars?” the ad says. “That’s what North Dakota is doing right now. While our neighbors are raking in cannabis tax revenue, we’re left empty-handed.”
“Montana alone generated over $118 million in just two years. That could be us,” it says. “Imagine the impact that kind of money could have on our school systems, emergency services and roads and bridges just from legalizing adult-use cannabis.”
“Don’t let our money cross state lines,” it concludes. “Vote yes on Measure 5 and keep North Dakota’s cash at home.”
An accompanying email blast lists five arguments in favor of the legalization initiative, including the potential tax revenue, job growth and criminal justice reform. The campaign also pointed out that the issue enjoys majority bipartisan support nationally, while stressing that the ballot proposal “reflects conservative values.”
“This election will be close, and every vote counts,” it said. “If you want to see positive change in North Dakota, make sure your voice is heard on November 5th. Vote YES on Measure 5 and help bring our state toward a safer, thriving future.”
The ad is running after a recent poll found the legalization ahead with a plurality of support—but without the majority needed to pass at this point due to a sizable share of voters who remain undecided on the reform.
The survey signals that the campaign behind the initiative still has work to do if they hope to secure a majority of the vote to enact it. Still, the poll is more encouraging for advocates than another survey released in August that found sizable majority opposition to the measure.
The campaign’s latest ad also comes amid a stepped-up opposition push, with the North Dakota’s Medical Association, Hospital Association, Peace Officers Association, Chiefs of Police Association and Sheriffs and Deputies Association all recently coming out against the measure.
Meanwhile, North Dakota lawmakers have been divided over how to estimate revenue and expenses for the state if voters approve the legalization proposal—but a legislative panel landed on a projection of $10.3 million in revenue for the 2025-2027 biennium if the reform is enacted.
In August, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe (R) certified that organizers behind the legalization initiative had collected enough valid voter signatures to put the measure on November’s ballot.
New Economic Frontier said last month that they submitted more than 22,000 voter signatures. They needed at least 15,582 valid signatures to qualify the proposal and officials ultimately validated 18,964 signatures.
Under the new legalization measure, adults 21 and older would be able to possess up to one ounce of marijuana flower, four grams of concentrate and 300 milligrams of edibles that they could buy from a limited number of licensed dispensaries. Adults could also grow up to three plants for personal use, with a six-plant cap per household.
The state Department of Health and Human Services or another agency designated by the legislature would be responsible for regulating the program. Regulators would need to establish rules to implement the law by October 1, 2025.
The new proposal would limit regulators to approving licenses for up to seven cannabis manufacturers and 18 retailers. There are also provisions meant to avoid creating intrastate monopolies, such as limiting licensees to no more than four dispensaries.
Currently, there are eight medical cannabis dispensaries operating in North Dakota. The initiative requires regulators to develop separate application processes for those businesses to become dual licensees and non-existing companies that wish to become recreational operators.
Unlike other legal states, the proposal in North Dakota doesn’t appear to contain criminal justice reform components favored by equity advocates such as expungements or licensing prioritization for people harmed by the drug war. It also doesn’t seem to contain any references to a proposed tax scheme for legal sales.
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New Economic Frontier filed its initiative with the state and formally launched the campaign in April.
As for neighboring states, is already legal in Montana and Minnesota, and it will be on the ballot in South Dakota in November.
In 2021, North Dakota’s House approved a marijuana legalization bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Dockter (R), but it was ultimately defeated in the Senate after advancing through committee.
Following that defeat, some senators devised a new plan to advance the issue by referring it to voters on the 2022 ballot. The resolution moved through a key committee in 2021, but the Senate also blocked it.
There have been repeated attempts by activists to enact legalization in the Peace Garden state over the years.
Advocates with the separate group North Dakota Cannabis Caucus started collecting signatures to qualify a constitutional amendment legalizing cannabis for the 2022 ballot, but they did not gather enough by deadline.
New Approach ND previously led an effort to place a legalization measure on the 2018 ballot that was defeated by voters. They filed another initiative for 2020, but signature gathering complications largely caused by the coronavirus pandemic got in the way.
North Dakota voters approved a medical cannabis ballot measure in 2016.
Last year, North Dakota’s governor signed a bill allowing patients admitted to hospice care to self-certify as medical marijuana patients.
The North Dakota House of Representatives also approved a resolution last year that encourages residents to buy U.S. flags that are made out of hemp and manufactured in the state.