Please Vote "No" on Legalizing Marijuana

I enjoyed my college years, and I have to admit that a significant part of that enjoyment was because I was 2,500 miles from home. I was ready to experience the “sweet taste of freedom” that college offered, and many of my other freshman classmates felt the same way. I’m not proud to admit that many of us did really stupid things that first year. My apologies to the parent we hit with a water balloon from the roof of our dorm, and to the campus security guard we scared by putting a mannequin in the dark closet they needed to check each night. 
 
One thing I did observe was that every so often that freedom took a seriously wrong turn. Instead of water balloons and mannequins, my university classmates often turned to marijuana (aka weed), amphetamines, and similar drugs. The results were obvious. Two of my close friends who smoked “weed” on a daily basis became so detached, that one dropped out after a semester, and the other went on to other drugs and eventually landed in jail from a felony conviction. I am convinced that marijuana played a key role in their indifference to school and life in general. It was really a shame. They became incapable of living up to their God-given potential. 
 
North Dakota is facing ballot Measure 5, which would legalize recreational marijuana, allowing individuals who are 21 and older to possess and use various forms of weed. I’m not surprised by the “21 and older” provision. It makes everyone feel safer to vote “yes”. It’s similar to the laws intended to keep you, your friends, and family members from ever smoking or drinking as minors. Let me know how that works out.
 
There is also a section of the measure to direct a state agency to administer and regulate the system, and provisions which are intended to shield employers from work-related issues.
 
Does all this sound familiar? It should. This is the third time that groups have tried to legalize marijuana in ND since 2018. Make no mistake, this is a war of attrition; it has been for every state in their crosshairs.
 
We at North Dakota Family Alliance stand with many other respected organizations opposing this measure; organizations such as the North Dakota Medical Association, North Dakota Hospital Association, Mandan Police Department, Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Petroleum Council, North Dakota Association of General Contractors, North Dakota Motor Carriers, North Dakota Farmers Union, and North Dakota Catholic Conference.

As we’ve all seen in Minnesota, Colorado, California, Washington state, and 20 others, marijuana legalization is a road that we don’t want to start down. Let’s not allow ND to become the 25th U.S. state that legalizes recreational weed. Please join with us in voting “No” on Measure 5 in November.