AP Photo Steve Bakken, left, and Casey Neumann, of the New Economic Frontier ballot initiative group, carry boxes containing petitions to the Secretary of State's Office on July 8, at the state Capitol in Bismarck.

A measure to legalize adult use, possession, distribution of allowable amounts of recreational cannabis and cannabis products in North Dakota will be on the November general election ballot. The North Dakota Secretary of State on Monday approved the initiative as Measure 5 on November’s ballot.

Steve Bakken of Bismarck, chairman of the ballot measure committee, New Economic Frontier, said in July the measure provides opportunities to talk about what cannabis can do for North Dakota from a judicial and law enforcement perspective.

“Giving the public the information to make their own decision as a voter is vitally important,” he said.

Measure supporters submitted petitions containing 22,384 signatures. The Secretary of State’s rejection of 3,420 signatures left the measure with adequate valid signatures to exceed the 15,582 signatures necessary to get on the ballot.

Voter passage of the measure would allow adult North Dakota residents to possess one ounce of cannabis, four grams of concentrate, concentrated chemical components of the plant, 1,500 milligrams of THC, the plant’s active ingredient and 300 milligrams of edible product. The measure also caps cultivating cannabis at home to three plants.

Opposition to the measure has already formed.

In a news release, Patrick Finken, chairman of the Brighter Future Alliance, cited the beating the measure has taken the last two times it has made it to the ballot.

“The supporters of Measure 5 won’t take no for an answer and are intent to inflict their poison on the people of North Dakota,” he said.

Points in opposition brought forth by the group include the impact of legal cannabis on brain development, addiction, illegal trafficking, other illegal drug use and DUIs. The Brighter Future Alliance could not be reached for additional comment.

“Adult-use cannabis will be on the same plane as alcohol use,” Bakken said. “Anyone under 21 should not be using it, just like alcohol.” He noted use by minors would still be a criminal act.

Bakken said the measure also would help eliminate illegal trafficking by bringing the cannabis market “into the light of day and out of back alleys.” According to Bakken, 30% of sales in dispensaries in Glendive, Montana, and 35% of those sales in Sydney, Montana, are to North Dakotans, who then illegally traffic it across state lines.

Amounts allowed on a person would be well defined and would allow law enforcement to identify those trafficking cannabis illegally, often finding other illegal substances as well, Bakken said. He said public use of cannabis would be similar to alcohol “to mitigate the smell of it as you walk down the street.”

Responding to concerns about crime, driving under the influence and rise in illegal drug use, Bakken said, “The systems are in place, and the laws are already on the books. Don’t break the law.”

Looking forward, Bakken said the next phase will be education and dispelling myths and rumors.