Back in 2014 a study was released suggesting a strong connection between legal marijuana and decreased overdoses from opioid abuse. It looked at data from 1999 to 2010, and found that states that ended marijuana prohibition to one degree or another had an average of 25 percent lower rate of opioid overdoses. What’s more, that…
Print Column: North Dakota’s Pro-Marijuana Movement Has Fractured Making Legalization Far Less Likely
MINOT, N.D. — There is a very large faction of North Dakotans who want marijuana legalized for recreational use. After approving medical marijuana in 2016, over 132,000 voters – more than 40% of turnout – voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2018. Not a majority, but certainly a strong minority. Something for activists to build…
Plain Talk: Legalize ND Spokesman Doesn’t See Rival Ballot Measure as Competition
There is some fracturing going on in the pro-marijuana movement in North Dakota, but on this episode of Plain Talk a spokesman for Legalize ND says he doesn’t see the new group as competition. “Their sponsoring committee looks more like a penitentiary,” David Owen told me, referring to the number of serious crimes members of…
Marijuana Amendment Supporters Withdraw Measure for “Language Changes”
Yesterday we got news that a group of activists had submitted a petitions to be approved for circulation in support of a constitutional amendment to legalize the growth and use of marijuana and to mandate state-backed research into the same. This morning, however, the group withdrew their measure. The reason? “Language changes,” John Bailey, chairman…
Constitutional Measure to Legalize Marijuana Has Sponsoring Committee With a Spotty Background
Secretary of State Al Jaeger’s office has received for review a petition backing a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana. While I support legalizing marijuana, this proposed policy is a terrible idea, all the more so because the policy would be enshrined in the state constitution. Where this sort of policy ought not be. But more…
Plain Talk: “Governor Burgum Has Proven Himself to Be a Member of the Good Old Boys Club”
Riley Kuntz is an organizer behind Audit the Swamp. A campaign which, among other things, aims to refer legislation limiting the state Auditor’s powers by requiring permission from a Legislative committee before performance audits can be conducted. Governor Doug Burgum signed that legislation into law, and Kuntz sees it as a repudiation of his 2016…
Referendum Campaign Forming to Put Question of Auditor’s Power on the Ballot
There has been a lot of controversy over legislation, sneaked into the budget for the Auditor’s office during the closing days of this year’s legislative session, which limits the powers of the state Auditor. Per that legislation, which was signed by Governor Doug Burgum (with feeble justification), the Auditor must now go begging to a legislative…
The New Census Could Change North Dakota’s Political Landscape Thanks to Western Population Growth
This week Governor Doug Burgum issued an executive order creating an initiative, called the Complete Count Task Force, aimed at ensuring an accurate census count in North Dakota. The national decennial population count is upon us, and it’s important for states like North Dakota to ensure accurate counts as the numbers will be used for…
Print Column: Heidi Heitkamp Is Probably Running for Governor in 2020
MINOT, N.D. — Here’s a bold prediction: Former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is probably going to run for governor. I don’t think she wants to be president of the University of North Dakota. Her name has been thrown around a bit for that job, and while she’s played coy when asked if she’d take the gig, that’s probably more…
Heidi Heitkamp’s New Political Project Is All About Heidi Heitkamp Maybe Running for Governor
While former Senator Heidi Heitkamp flirts with the possibility of being the new president of the University of North Dakota (she should be considered for the job if she wants it, but I’m not convinced she really wants it) she’s also launching a new political initiative aimed at helping Democratic candidates convince rural voters the…