Thor Benson / Cannabis News Box Contributor

North Dakota will officially be voting on cannabis legalization in November, and cannabis advocates are hopeful that citizens will approve the measure. The state approved medical cannabis in 2016, and it seems like voters might be ready to take the next step. As Forbes noted, this proposition is unusual compared to most legalization initiatives, because it allows people to possess and cultivate as much cannabis as they want.

“In 2016, North Dakotans voted in favor of medicinal marijuana to the tune of 63% of the vote,” Cole Haymond, an adviser to the Legalize ND campaign, told Cannabis News Box. “The legislature dragging their feet on implementation quickly became the impetus behind our grassroots enthusiasm. Our private polling from back in February shows that ND residents are in favor of legalization outside the margin of error.”

The fact North Dakota is getting this much support for legalization shows we are far past the point where it was only something being considered by liberal states. With states as conservative as Oklahoma approving medical cannabis, it seems the whole country is on the verge of allowing some form cannabis sales.

Not surprisingly, Haymond said outside groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) are opposing this effort, as well as North Dakota’s Sheriffs and Deputies Association. Many argue police organizations oppose legalization because of the money they get to fight the drug war.

“In the rural areas, legalization will greatly benefit the agriculture industry,” Haymond said. “In population centers, it is more of a matter of personal freedom and criminal justice reform.”

Haymond said the “expungement aspect” of their initiative, which would allow cannabis-related criminal records to be gotten rid of, is being used to scare people in the state. As usual, cannabis users are being portrayed as violent criminals. He said it does not allow anyone to be released from prison but does allow people who have been released to have their records sealed. He said opponents are also using the myth that cannabis is a gateway drug to scare people. They intend to fight these false narratives.

“We applaud the hard work and dedication from the campaign and countless volunteers on the ground in North Dakota who went door to door and out into their communities to gather the signatures required to put this on the ballot in November,” NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri said. “Marijuana legalization is no longer a regional or partisan issue. Well over 60% of all Americans support ending our nation’s failed prohibition and I expect North Dakota voters to send shockwaves across the country this fall when they join the growing contingent of states who have chosen the sensible path of legalization and regulation over prohibition and incarceration.”