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: How Did an Effort to Decriminalize Marijuana Get Turned Into Legislation Which Increases Penalties?
State Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) has spent a lot of time this legislative session pushing to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana under North Dakota law. Her original bill failed, but the issue was brought back in the state Senate in an amendment to a Department of Corrections bill. But now that amendment…
Plain Talk: State Senator Explains Why She Brought Back Decriminalization of Marijuana
State Senator Kristin Roers (R-Fargo) is a cousin to state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo). The latter Roers introduced legislation to decriminalize marijuana earlier this session only to see it defeated. That prompted the former Roers to resurrect it by way of floor amendment in the Senate. To give the legislation its “day in court”…
Decriminalizing Marijuana Isn’t Enough
Kudos to state Senator Kristin Roers for bringing back legislation to decriminalize marijuana by way of a floor amendment this week. The bill passed on a 37-10 vote, and thanks to the amendment brought by Senator Roers it would reduce the penalty for possessing less than a half ounce of marijuana to a $250 fine.…
Plain Talk: Rep. Armstrong Says Demands for Full Mueller Report Are a “Political Stunt”
“Sometimes we hurt our friends more when we do these sort of things,” Rep. Kelly Armstrong said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was responding to a listener question about President Donald Trump’s proposal to shut down the border with Mexico. Armstrong says he opposes the move. “We need our trading partners in Canada…
Senator Cramer Co-Sponsors Legislation With Senator Warren to Let States Set Their Own Marijuana Policy
“I’m such a prude, if I could I’d role it back so we couldn’t have booze,” Senator Kevin Cramer once told me during an interview. He was responding to a question about legalizing marijuana, expressing a personal that North Dakota shouldn’t legalize marijuana, but he also said he supported states making their own choices when…
Plain Talk: Lawmaker Says Push to Decriminalize Marijuana Isn’t Dead Yet
The North Dakota Legislature has a tradition of giving every bill introduced, at the very least, a committee hearing and a floor vote in the chamber in which it was introduced. A bill to decriminalize marijuana introduced by state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) did get those things, but on this episode of Plain Talk…