The legalization of recreational marijuana may end up on the November ballot after the petition format was approved late last month. Now, the sponsoring group is gathering signatures.

For years, North Dakotans have considered the issue of legalizing recreational marijuana. Residents have opinions across the board.

“I think, you know with regulation, people should be able to choose what they want to do. And if they are practicing whatever they want to do safely, that’s fine by me,” said Bismarck resident Romeo Norris.

“I don’t have no opinion on it,” said Bismarck resident Mike Roll.

Others said off-camera that they’re against it.

Now, sponsoring committee New Approach North Dakota is working to put marijuana on the November 2022 ballot by collecting 15,582 voter signatures by July 11.

“It’s going good. We have internal metrics and quotas we manage, and we are at or above all of our metrics,” said New Approach North Dakota campaign manager David Owen.

The language of the proposed measure is similar to a 2021 bill that passed the North Dakota House but failed in the state Senate after senators like Oley Larsen spoke out. [Read more at West Dakota Fox]