Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Bismarck — Sponsors of an initiative aimed at legalizing marijuana in North Dakota failed to gather enough signatures by Monday's deadline to put the proposed measure on the Nov. 8 ballot, a sponsor said.
Backers needed to submit at least 13,452 signatures to the secretary of state's office.
"Sounds like we just missed the mark. We had about 80 percent of the signatures we needed, but weren't able to get them all," said Tony Mangnall of Fargo, a member of the 26-person sponsoring committee and chairman of the North Dakota Libertarian Party, which endorsed the proposed measure.
Committee chairman Eric Olson of Fargo couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
The proposed measure would have made it legal for those over age 21 to grow, possess, use and distribute marijuana and would have prevented the state from requiring a license to do it. Marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia couldn't be taxed at more than 20 percent.
Mangnall said sponsors plan to try again, probably for the 2018 ballot. They turned in their petition language in February but had to resubmit it because of errors that didn't reflect recent changes to state law, and they weren't able to start collecting signatures until March.
"Probably next time around we'll have all the signatures we need," Mangnall said.
Meanwhile, sponsors of a proposed measure to legalize medical marijuana planned to deliver signatures to Secretary of State Al Jaeger at 2 p.m. Monday, July 11. They said last week they had about 15,500 signatures.
If approved, the so-called Compassionate Care Act would allow for the possession of up to 3 ounces of medical marijuana for treatment of about a dozen debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, AIDS and glaucoma, while allowing the state Health Department to add more. The department would issue ID cards for patients.
State-licensed facilities would dispense the marijuana, though people living more than 40 miles from the nearest dispensary could grow up to eight marijuana plants in an enclosed, locked facility after notifying law enforcement.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Sponsors Of Initiative To Legalize Marijuana Fail To Gather Enough Signatures By Deadline
Author: Mike Nowatzki
Contact: 701-252-3120
Photo Credit: Teresa Crawford
Website: The Jamestown Sun
Backers needed to submit at least 13,452 signatures to the secretary of state's office.
"Sounds like we just missed the mark. We had about 80 percent of the signatures we needed, but weren't able to get them all," said Tony Mangnall of Fargo, a member of the 26-person sponsoring committee and chairman of the North Dakota Libertarian Party, which endorsed the proposed measure.
Committee chairman Eric Olson of Fargo couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
The proposed measure would have made it legal for those over age 21 to grow, possess, use and distribute marijuana and would have prevented the state from requiring a license to do it. Marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia couldn't be taxed at more than 20 percent.
Mangnall said sponsors plan to try again, probably for the 2018 ballot. They turned in their petition language in February but had to resubmit it because of errors that didn't reflect recent changes to state law, and they weren't able to start collecting signatures until March.
"Probably next time around we'll have all the signatures we need," Mangnall said.
Meanwhile, sponsors of a proposed measure to legalize medical marijuana planned to deliver signatures to Secretary of State Al Jaeger at 2 p.m. Monday, July 11. They said last week they had about 15,500 signatures.
If approved, the so-called Compassionate Care Act would allow for the possession of up to 3 ounces of medical marijuana for treatment of about a dozen debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, AIDS and glaucoma, while allowing the state Health Department to add more. The department would issue ID cards for patients.
State-licensed facilities would dispense the marijuana, though people living more than 40 miles from the nearest dispensary could grow up to eight marijuana plants in an enclosed, locked facility after notifying law enforcement.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Sponsors Of Initiative To Legalize Marijuana Fail To Gather Enough Signatures By Deadline
Author: Mike Nowatzki
Contact: 701-252-3120
Photo Credit: Teresa Crawford
Website: The Jamestown Sun
