States that have both a medical marijuana law and have removed jail time for possessing small amounts of marijuana
Updates
New campaign files 2022 ballot measure to legalize cannabis
Last update: April 11, 2022
In April, a committee of 25 North Dakotans filed a statutory ballot initiative petition to legalize cannabis for adults. The New Approach North Dakota campaign must gather more than 15,582 valid signatures by July 11 to qualify the measure for the November 2022 ballot.
If approved by a majority of voters later this year, the measure would:
Allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and cultivate up to three plants in their homes;
Establish retail cannabis stores, product manufacturers, testing laboratories, and other types of cannabis businesses; and
Direct regulators to establish rules and implement the adult-use cannabis program by October 1, 2023.
North Dakota becomes 25th state to eliminate jail time for low-level marijuana possession!
With Gov. Doug Burgum’s signature on House Bill 1050, North Dakota removed jail time penalties for adults 21 and older who possess up to half an ounce of marijuana in May 2019. The final legislation was the product of a conference committee made up of members from the House and Senate of North Dakota’s Republican-controlled state legislature.
North Dakota’s new law went into effect on August 1 last year. It reclassifies possession of up to a half ounce of marijuana as an infraction punishable by no jail time and a maximum fine of $1,000. Previously, it was a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail in addition to a fine. The bill also reclassifies penalties for possession offenses involving amounts greater than a half ounce, and it calls on the Legislative Assembly to study adult-use legalization. A detailed summary of HB 1050 is available here.