Supporters of a proposed measure to legalize adult recreational marijuana in North Dakota say they are offering a conservative option to the less workable proposals coming by out-of-state interests.

A petition proposing a ballot measure for legalization was submitted to the North Dakota Secretary of State Tuesday.

Steve Bakken, Burleigh County commissioner, radio host and former Bismarck mayor, chairs the sponsoring committee, New Economic Frontier, for the proposed statutory measure. He said the intent is to get ahead of out-of-state interests that would like to get more liberal language on North Dakota’s ballot.

“I would rather see something crafted in North Dakota to fit into the fabric of North Dakota values and sensibilities than something from out of state that is a one-size fits all and doesn’t work,” Bakken said. “If we did not come up with a better solution, we would wind up with something that the Legislature was going to have to interpret and figure out how to navigate, and we didn’t want to see that because we see in other states – and great examples are Colorado and Oregon – how it’s a free for all. We didn’t want to see that – or something that would allow for that – passed in North Dakota.”

North Dakota voters rejected recreational marijuana in November 2022, with 55% of voters opposed. Voters approved medical marijuana in 2016. The Legislature decriminalized possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana by adults aged 21 years and older for personal use.

The petition for the proposed measure allows at-home cannabis use by adults 21 and older. Possession limits are more conservative than neighboring Minnesota and Montana and they vary with the type of product. The proposal also allows the growing of up to three plants per adult, with a maximum of six plants per household. Adults could purchase products from registered cannabis establishments in North Dakota.

The measure needs 15,582 signatures by July 8 to be placed on the November general election ballot, which Bakken said is the goal. The Secretary of State and Attorney General must first draft a petition title, which will be provided to the sponsoring committee between Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday April 25.

Supporters say passage of the measure would have a positive impact on North Dakota’s economy by creating jobs and generating revenue.

“I feel that North Dakota needs to be ready for this. You take a look at Minnesota and Montana. People travel to those states for picking up what they utilize for personal use, and my biggest concern is that North Dakota had the ability to regulate it and North Dakota had the ability to have quality control on it, and North Dakota has the ability to tax it,” Bakken said.

There also is a public safety aspect in terms of quality control over a product, he said. Proponents say testing for potency and screening for contaminants is a benefit of legalization, as is increasing access for individuals with medical conditions who cannot obtain medical marijuana.