Sept. 3 – Dickinson – A measure to legalize marijuana will appear on the ballot in November, and a poll of Southwest Dakota readers conducted throughout July indicates that support for legalizing recreational marijuana on the Western Edge has waned since the measure was last polled.
The poll asked readers, “Secretary of State Geiger announced that North Dakota voters will decide this fall whether to legalize recreational marijuana. Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana?”
A similar survey in 2018, when the state voted for Measure 3, showed Southwest Dakota residents favoring the measure 60% to 40%. Action 3 will ultimately fail at the polls with a vote of 59% to 41%.
The results of the 2022 survey showed a marked change over the intervening years in public perception in the western part of the state of recreational marijuana. Of the votes, 39% voted “Yes, it’s time”, 18% were indifferent to the measure saying “I don’t care either way” and 43% voted “No. I don’t think anyone should be able. to use marijuana more appropriately.” entertaining.”
The initiative was introduced by Libertarian state Senate candidate Jodi Vetter for 2020 on January 11, 2021. On August 15, Jaeger confirmed the validity of more than 23,000 signatures for the measures—well above the number of 15,582 required for the measure to appear on the ballot.
According to the report on the matter, the
Measures
Those over the age of 21 will be allowed to own, grow, process or transport up to one ounce of marijuana, as well as small amounts of its various forms such as THC oils and foodstuffs.
Members of the state’s general assembly will have until October 1, 2023 to establish an organizational structure and agency to oversee this, possibly under the Department of Health and Human Services.
The initiative in North Dakota will be limited to a maximum of 18 retail dispensaries and seven production facilities, according to a elaboration on the measure. It also restricts the number of such entities that a single individual or entity can own in an effort to prevent a monopoly on the marijuana market.
A 2021 Gallup poll found that 68% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. The press poll aligns closely with Republican positions nationwide. A Gallup poll showed Republicans split 50% in favour, 49% opposed, and 1% indifferent.
Representative Vicki Steiner, R-37, of Dickinson, said that while she personally opposed the measure, she would respect the will of voters.
“Medicinal (marijuana), if it helps people with their disease, that’s one thing. But it worries me that if it could be abused by children for recreational purposes, it might get into the hands of minors more easily, it would be more difficult for me,” Steiner said. Police.” “I think adults can make decisions for themselves… I don’t want it to affect the health of children.”
She expressed other concerns about public safety and the possibility of more disabled drivers getting behind the wheel.
That THC, the psychoactive compound of marijuana, slows down driver’s reaction time, hand-eye coordination and judgment.
Senator Dick Deaver, R-32, of Bismarck, said he also opposes legalization noting that several business interests such as the Petroleum Board and the ND Chamber of Commerce shared his position when the measure was up for polling in 2016, citing workforce development concerns.
“Another complication is workforce safety,” Deaver said. “OSHA will not provide workers compensation for those under the influence.” Legally, there are other complications as well. How do you determine if someone is under the influence? It’s not the same as alcohol, you can measure blood alcohol and marijuana in your system for 30 days.
If the procedure works, Deaver said, he hopes to regulate the levels of THC content in marijuana, which he noted has increased dramatically over the decades.
The North Dakota Oil Board, which has been active in combating the measure in 2018, confirmed that it would not resist efforts to legalize the 2022 pot. Ron Ness, president of the NDPC, said the decision was about resource management and that the board did not have the resources to engage in significant opposition to the measure.
Ness, in interviews with the media, said that one in five jobs in North Dakota are directly or indirectly related to the state’s oil industry and that the majority of those jobs require drug testing. The NDPC said they are concerned that marijuana legalization could negatively impact the state’s already overburdened workforce.
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