According to newly released polling, a majority of voters in North Dakota oppose legalizing recreational marijuana.
The poll, commissioned by the Brighter Future Alliance and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed 500 likely voters between June 15 and 19, asking them about a variety of political issues.
The poll found that 57% of North Dakota voters oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21, with 43% in support.
In late April, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe approved a marijuana legalization initiative sponsored by the nonprofit political committee New Economic Frontier. This approval granted the committee until July 8 to gather 15,582 signatures from registered voters to place the measure on the November 2024 ballot. As of now, the group has amassed over 15,000 signatures.
The proposed initiative aims to legalize possession for adults 21 and older, allowing them to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, four grams of marijuana concentrates, and 1,500 milligrams of adult-use cannabinoid products, including 300 milligrams in edible form. Furthermore, it would permit the personal cultivation of up to three marijuana plants and enable the purchase of marijuana products from licensed stores.
While the path to legalization appears steep, the proponents remain optimistic about their chances, saying that not much can be gathered from one poll conducted months prior to the election.
