BISMARCK, N.D. - A proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota will go the voters if supporters can gather enough signatures.
Secretary of State Al Jaeger on Friday approved the petition for circulation. Jaeger says backers of the ballot measure must gather about 13,500 qualified signatures to put it to a statewide vote next year.
Sponsors say the petition seeks to make it legal to grow, possess, use and distribute marijuana for people 21 and older. It also seeks to seal the records of anyone convicted of a marijuana-related crime that would be made legal under the measure.
Supporters of legalizing marijuana fell short on petition signatures in 2016.