The Senate has rejected the House-approved cannabis legalization bill. Thus, killing the reform previously passed out of the House last month. This now leaves legalization in the hands of activists, which is what the House was trying to avoid.

It was clear from the start that many lawmakers did not support adult-use legalization. But their goal was to get ahead of activists. Because they are working to place a more intense policy change on the 2022 ballot.

Now with lawmakers’ failure to move the issue through the Senate onto the governor’s desk. Voters may have to decide on legalizing cannabis themselves.

Senators defeated the legalization measure in a 10-37 vote. The Senate also unanimously defeated separate legislation related to cannabis taxes. They temporarily set aside another bill to expand the state’s existing cannabis decriminalization law.

“We are disappointed that the Senate did not follow the wisdom of the House, and as a result, we will be launching our ballot initiative shortly,” David Owens, chairman of the pro-reform group Legalize ND, told Marijuana Moment. “We said if you pass this, we won’t do an initiative. It hasn’t passed, so we’re going to do a ballot initiative.”

Next Steps for Cannabis Legalization

Legalize ND was among pro-legalization groups that supported the legislation. Although it was not perfect and very restrictive, it would be a step in the right direction.

In 2018 voters defeated a legalization measure on the ballot. Last year the group again attempted to qualify another initiative. But the pandemic made gathering signatures too complicated.

Now, Legalize ND will prepare to try again for the 2022 ballot. Although, another team of activists has already filed its own proposed legalization ballot measure for 2022.

A bill to expand cannabis decriminalization in North Dakota passed in the House last month. It is now in the Senate waiting to be voted on. The bill is expected to be approved in the coming days to serve as a compromise after they killed the legalization measure for cannabis legalization bill.

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