Recreational Marijuana Measure Fails in North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — While voters once again rejected adult recreational marijuana use, the organization behind the ballot measure still believes legalization is inevitable.

While measure 5 didn’t pass, the gap between yes and no votes has narrowed since the last time a similar measure was on the ballot.

Nearly 53% of the vote was against legal weed with 190,161 people voting no and 171,733 voting yes.

A leader of the group behind the measure worries what issues the state may face if marijuana is legalized federally, or if future ballot measures on the issue will be from out of state organizations.

“We always do things better for North Dakota if it starts in North Dakota. I’m more concerned about what will pass and measure 5 was a very conservative measure put forth so that the state had all the control, and whatever winds up passing – whether it’s a out of state initiated measure or if its a Federal policy change – we’re going to have some issues navigating it, and I’m probably not going to like what shows up,” said Steve Bakken with New Economic Frontier.

There are no plans right now for another ballot measure on the topic.