By Dave Thompson

BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public) – The leader of an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota says his group will have enough signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.

David Owen of Grand Forks chairs “Legalize N-D.” His group needs 13,452 valid petition signatures by July 6th. Owen says circulation began January 6th.

Owen says he has three main reasons for legalization. One is the cost of putting people in prison for marijuana offenses.

Owen says a second reason is the state’s workforce shortage. He says the biggest barrier to filling some of the jobs is a lack of education – and a barrier to education is the unavailability of student loans. He says if you have a marijuana conviction, you can’t get a student loan.

Owen says a third reason for legalization is the potential for marijuana as a cash crop.

Owen says his group was criticized in 2018 for having too broad a measure. He says this one is more limited – and he thinks there is support for it.