Last month a North Dakota Judge ruled that nearly 500 lbs of marijuana seized during a traffic stop could not be admitted as evidence for criminal charges against the driver and his passenger because the traffic stop itself was unconstitutional. The story made headlines because, let’s face it, that’s a lot of marijuana and losing…
‘Build More Jails’ Is Not a Sustainable Solution to the Drug Addiction Problem
There is a significant debate in North Dakota right now circling around prison overcrowding and how we treat drug abuse in the criminal justice system. Some including Leann Bertsch, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections, want put more emphasis on addiction treatment instead of incarceration. Others, unfortunately, seem to like the status quo.…
Fargo Police Chief David Todd: Treat Medicinal Marijuana "As Medicine"
This year North Dakotans may be asked to vote on not one but two ballot measures legalizing marijuana (and, ironically, one measure to implement tobacco price prohibition). One marijuana measure being circulated seeks to legalize medicinal marijuana. Another seeks to legalize all types of marijuana use. Interestingly, Fargo Police Chief David Todd seems open to…
ND House Defeats Medical Marijuana Bill 26-67
A bill to legalize medicinal marijuana didn’t get much love from the state House today. It failed on a 26-67 vote with most of the objection based on the idea that, while marijuana may have some legitimate medicinal uses, that the drug’s strange legal situation makes it impossible for the state to do things like…
Medicinal Marijuana Bill Is Bad Public Policy
Today lawmakers on the House Human Services Committee are hearing testimony on HB1430 which would legalize the use of medicinal marijuana in the state. I’m sure much of the debate will circle around the efficacy of cannabis as a medical treatment, and the impact this legalization might have on crime and illicit drug use. Personally,…
From The Left: Marijuana Legalization Requires Leadership From The Right
I have a friend of mine whom I will call Bret. Bret is a 32 year old North Dakotan who in 2010 was diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder that greatly limited his life. At the time of diagnosis, Bret was employed full time and living a pretty normal life. Within a year, Bret was forced…
Maybe Being Pro-Life Isn't Just For Bible-Thumping Social Conservatives Any More
The dramatic reversal of opinion among Americans about the legalization of pot is hardly a news story any more. At this point, blanket legalization seems inevitable, and I think that’s a good thing for our country. There is a lot of blood and treasure expended on the “war on drugs” of which marijuana is a…
California Legalizes Pot, Drug Dealers Move To New York
There’s a fascinating lesson in the economics of prohibition to be learned from this report of a drug dealer who moved from California, where marijuana is basically legal, to New York where it remains illegal: Meet Chuck, a San Francisco marijuana dealer, who came to New York from California to sell weed because, in New…
Hoeven, Heitkamp Vote To Make Internet Shopping More Expensive
The US Senate just passed the misnamed Marketplace Fairness Act on a 69-27 vote. Both of North Dakota’s Senators, John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, voted for the bill which allows states to collect sales taxes from online retailers even if they have no physical presence in the state in question and thus use none of…
Pew Poll: For The First Time In 40 Years Majority Of Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana
It’s been trending this way for years, and will likely continue given that support for legalizing marijuana is most intense among the younger generations: The survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted March 13-17 among 1,501 adults, finds that young people are the most supportive of marijuana legalization. Fully 65% of Millennials –born since 1980…