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N.D. (AP) – Supporters of changing North Dakota’s pharmacy ownership law can begin circulating petitions to try to bring the issue to voters.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger has approved the format of the petition. Supporters need to gather and submit at least 13,452 valid signatures by August 6th to get a proposed measure on November’s general election ballot.

It would change a requirement in North Dakota law that says majority ownership in pharmacies in the state must be held by a registered pharmacist. That could open the door for big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart to operate pharmacies in the state.

A similar petition drive failed in 2010, a year after the 2009 Legislature defeated a bill that would have repealed the pharmacy ownership requirement.