BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – North Dakota voters will be deciding on legalizing recreational marijuana at the polls this November.

In July, 451 petitions with 18,700 signatures were submitted by the North Dakota Legalization Initiative. Today, Secretary of State Al Jaeger declared that the measure has earned ballot status for the November election.

“The Legalize ND campaign was able to successfully channel the grassroots enthusiasm for recreational marijuana into an unprecedented number of signatures for a ballot initiative,” Legalize ND Campaign Chair David Owen stated. “We did it without paying a single petitioner. Our widespread fervor is borne out of the extended delay by the legislature to implement the Medical Marijuana program. We are excited to continue our efforts to educate voters as we approach the November election.”

To place the statutory initiated measure, the petitions had to contain at least 13,452 valid signatures. If approved, it will legalize the cultivation, possession, use, and distribution of marijuana for individuals aged 21 years or older in the state of North Dakota.

Currently, there are nine other states and the District of Columbia that have legalized weed for both medical and recreational use. Medicinal marijuana was approved by voters in 2016.