Campaigners for legalized marijuana use in North Dakota turned in their petition last Monday. If accepted, it would put the issue on November’s ballot, giving citizens of the state another opportunity to pass laws allowing for legal use of cannabis for medical reasons. If passed, new laws would allow qualifying patients to possess and grow a limited amount of marijuana for personal use.  To qualify, the patient must have been diagnosed with one of the qualifying medical conditions; which include cancer, glaucoma and post traumatic stress disorder. The law would also make way for legal dispensaries within North Dakota state lines.

In the past, North Dakota voters have voted down attempts to reform marijuana laws. In 2006, a similar law was rejected when 63% of voters said “no.” However North Dakota for Compassionate Care said that the numbers are starting to change as people’s opinions are evolving, largely due to voters having loved ones with qualifying conditions. Said Campaign Director David Schwartz, ““[One] of the myths that we often hear is that this is only for people to just go ahead and get high, and that’s not the case. This is about medical patients who would benefit greatly from it.”

North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger has one month to verify the signatures and consider it for the November ballot. The group North Dakotans for Compassionate Care turned in a petition containing 20,000 signatures; well over the 13,500 required.