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.
What is important to you?
Since assuming the role of Executive Director of North Dakota Family Alliance, I have been honored to work with other nonprofits, legislators, churches, and our allies across the state to represent our shared pro-life and pro-family values. As we approach the upcoming 2025 legislative session, we’ve been working on a number of topics/bills based upon factors such as, which topics we feel God is calling us to engage on, key social issues, issues raised by legislators and partners, and so on. However, I also find myself asking, what policy issues are most important to you? We represent biblical values on your behalf, so what do you think the most pressing topics should be for us?
As citizens who hold the types of values we do, we often find ourselves under attack. Yes, bills will be introduced into the next legislative session that we will need to respond to, but what bills would you like to see introduced into the legislature proactively? What policies do you believe will enable us to keep North Dakota a state where God is honored, families thrive, religious freedom flourishes, and life is cherished?
You help set our policy agenda in North Dakota, so I want to hear from you. Please email me at mark@ndfamilyalliance.org with the top one or two policy issues that you feel are most important. We are listening, and together we will make a lasting difference in the 2025 legislative session!
North Dakota Family Alliance's Statement on Judge Romanick's Ruling Against ND Abortion Law
North Dakota Family Alliance is deeply disappointed in yesterday’s ruling by Judge Bruce Romanick to strike down our state’s abortion law. The court ruled against pro-life values, citing that our state’s abortion law was unconstitutional due to “vagueness,” and because, “pregnant women in North Dakota have a fundamental right to choose abortion before viability exists under the enumerated and unenumerated interests protected by the North Dakota Constitution”. We strongly disagree.
Unrestricted access to abortion is now possible in North Dakota, putting women and the unborn children they carry at extreme risk. Our meticulously crafted law has been thrown out by the court in a ruling derived from activist decision-making and personal opinion.
The court’s ruling dismantles years of careful work done to protect unborn North Dakota children – laws put in place by the North Dakota Legislature with an overwhelming level of support. This decision has the power to make North Dakota one of the most liberal states in our nation on the issue of abortion and is clearly not the will of the people, as evidenced by decades of protecting life in this state.
North Dakota Family Alliance always has and always will fight ardently to protect and defend life in the state of North Dakota and to represent your values. The North Dakota Attorney General’s office has stated that they will appeal this judgment, and we pray the North Dakota Supreme Court will reverse this poorly reasoned decision.
Biblical Voting
You have heard me use the phrase “biblical citizenship” many times. Biblical citizenship can apply to many aspects of the political process: from lobbying to letter writing, from “get out the vote” campaigns to voting for God-fearing men and women candidates. With elections just around the corner, let’s talk about voting.
There are two important aspects of a candidate for office: their personal character and their policies. Both are typically indicators of what will happen if the person is elected.
On the character side, we all want someone who exhibits Christ-like servanthood, but who can also take strong unbending stands on moral issues when needed. Someone who uses the Bible as a touchstone for their actions and doesn’t merely pay lip service to the Scriptures and its teachings. A person who truly wants to pursue biblical solutions to tough problems.
Is there a perfect candidate on the character side of things? Not a chance. Some may be closer to this ideal than others, but nobody meets these criteria to the extent they should, and that includes both of our current presidential candidates. I’m sure there are also candidates running for office here in our state that miss the mark to one extent or another.
All I can say is, let’s give a little grace on these character flaws. That’s not the same as giving politicians a pass – they should be held accountable for what they say and do. However, always keep in mind that you and I are just as flawed as the next person. Someone once told me, "we’re all broken, some of us just show the cracks sooner than others."
On the policy side, there can often be substantial differences between candidates. As North Dakota Family Alliance, we obviously focus on issues that fall under our umbrella, so here are some of the biblical issues I would consider for candidates at all levels.
Abortion: Does the candidate plan to enact policies that protect life from conception to natural death?
Religious Liberty: Is the free expression of religious beliefs something the candidate will protect, consistent with the First Amendment? This applies to individuals, businesses, elected officials, and others.
Education: Does the candidate uphold and protect the primary rights of parents to determine and guide the education of their children?
Marriage/Family: Is marriage defined as being between one man and one woman, biologically distinct from birth, and is this marriage the nucleus of a healthy family?
Disadvantaged: Is the candidate committed to helping the “widow and orphan” – those living on the fringes of society – as God commanded? This might include those such as the homeless, unemployed, families who can’t make ends meet, the disabled, etc.
While both personal character and policies are important when choosing a candidate, the difference is that policies live on and shape our county long after the elected official has faded into history. Some of the greatest presidents this country experienced over the years had spotted character attributes but did amazing things for the advancement of our nation and ensured we held to the fundamentals upon which this country was founded.
I’m not going to tell you who to vote for. In fact, North Dakota Family Alliance is nonpartisan, and we want to keep it that way. We want you to vote your conscience and vote your values on the types of issues highlighted above. If you do that, you are exercising your biblical citizenship and one of your most privileged freedoms. Do not waste it.
North Dakota's 69th Legislative Session
We are quickly approaching North Dakota’s 69th Legislative Session which begins on January 7, 2025! NDFA often encounters many questions during session, so we’ve tried to address the more common ones below. We want to provide helpful information to let you get more involved politically, as well as to help you better understand our organization. We hope you’ll find this valuable, share it with a friend, and revisit the details as needed during the 2025 session. Your voice matters! Let’s all help defend North Dakota’s values of Faith, Family, and Freedom.
How does a ND bill become law?
This document prepared by the ND Legislative Council provides an excellent overview of how a bill becomes law in North Dakota: ND Bill-Law Process. The legislature meets every other year (odd numbered years) and anywhere from 900-1,500 bills are introduced each session. Unlike some states, bills cannot be “killed in committee” and all bills are voted on at least once on the floor of the legislature. You can find a more detailed description of the bill process here, which was created by one of our partner organizations in ND.
Who can influence whether a bill passes or not?
Virtually anyone can provide input into the legislative process of a bill. This includes legislators (particularly members of the committees where bills are assigned), lobbyists, expert witnesses, and YOU. You can testify on any bill that is introduced into the legislature! With the advent of COVID, you can now even do this remotely. All of these contributors providing input on bills can submit written testimony and/or testify before the relevant committee to which the bill has been assigned. You can also influence the trajectory of a bill by calling your district legislators and talking to them directly, leaving a message, or emailing them. Find my legislators
Does it really make a difference if I contact my legislators about a bill or testify before a committee? I’m only one person.
YES, it matters a lot. On most bills, legislators get very few of his/her constituents contacting them about how they might vote. For example, if you are one of only 3 people from a legislator’s district that provides input on a bill, your input represents 33% of all the input the legislator receives from the people who voted them into office. Legislators place a great deal of importance on input provided by the residents of their districts.
Can I find out how my legislators voted on past bills?
Absolutely. That information is public and provided by the State of North Dakota, however, if you want to know how they voted on select bills most important to your family values, you can simply review our legislative scorecards we produce after each session. They can be found on our Resources page.
What is the difference between a bill and a resolution?
If a bill is passed, it becomes a law and is part of our ND body of law called The Century Code. However, if a resolution passes, it becomes a “statement” made by the ND Legislature regarding their position on some issue. A resolution is not law. At times, ND resolutions are used to put the federal government “on notice” that the State of ND takes a position on some issue, in which case the resolution is entered into the official documentation of Congress as well.
How do I find out which bills will affect my family values and be the most important?
Simply sign up for our advocacy alerts (Email signup at bottom of page). We let you know which bills are most important, where they are in the process, when to provide input, and even give you the opportunity to contact your legislators in a quick and easy way using our advocacy alert system. We post updates on social media on a regular basis as well (see our Resources page for social media links). Of course, you can always call us and ask about any bill, and we will be happy to help as well (701-355-6425).
How does NDFA and NDFALA represent my interests during the legislative session?
NDFALA, the part of our organization that primarily focuses on legislative issues, does a lot of work before, during, and after sessions. During a session we: review all 1,000+ bills multiple times to ensure we are not missing one that impacts family values, coordinate with other state organizations to develop strategies around these bills, do research about particular issues for legislators, occasionally author initial versions of bills in support of legislators, testify on bills, lobby legislators regarding their votes, track the status of each key bill and help facilitate a result that protects and advances your values, and continue to inform you of the status of key bills and help you get involved. The best way to stay informed about all this is by signing up for our emails. Email signup at bottom of page.
What else does NDFA/NDFALA do besides work on bills?
Our organization does a lot of things to represent your family values, both during and especially between legislative sessions. We speak at churches and other venues to discuss political issues, educate voters on the political process through our emails and social media, highlight critical issues that arise between sessions so you can take action (e.g., NDSU teaming with Planned Parenthood), advocate on your behalf on many issues, host conferences and rallies, plan for upcoming legislative sessions, produce documents and resources to help you learn about the ND political process, and much more.
What is NDFA’s purpose?
Please see our Mission and Vision Statements for the best explanation.
Is your organization Christian?
Yes, we are a Christian, ecumenical organization. Our beliefs may best be summed up in the Apostles' Creed and we work to advance these biblical principles in the policy arena.
How long have you been in existence?
NDFA was formed in 1987. For roughly 5 years we were part of Family Policy Alliance based out of Colorado, but we are now once again fully independent and able to focus more closely on North Dakota.
How big is your organization?
We have two full-time staff, our Executive Director, Mark Jorritsma, and Jacob Thomsen who serves as a Policy Analyst. We also have a part-time staff, Marit Heidbreder, who is our Executive Administrative Assistant. Because of our limited size, we love it when people offer to volunteer. Contact us if you're interested in volunteering. We would like to expand our organization to provide more influence, education, mobilization, etc. to fight on your behalf, but resource constraints currently limit our ability to do this.
Are you part of any particular political party?
No, we are nonpartisan and not part of any formal political party. If a particular party platform aligns with our beliefs and cause, that is wonderful, but is does not affiliate us with that party. NDFA is willing to work with anyone who believes in biblical family values, regardless of party, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristic. We focus on issues and values, not parties.
Do you address national issues, too?
Yes, we do. While the focus is on our state, we know that national events clearly affect us. We get involved in national issues in two primary ways. First, we partner with national organizations such as Family Research Council, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life, Focus on the Family, Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Policy Alliance, and more. Second, NDFA is one of approximately 40 organizations just like us in other states. On a regular basis we launch national campaigns, author briefs to the Supreme Court, exchange information about national events and our positions on them, and coordinate on other important matters we all share.
How can I get more involved in the political process in North Dakota?
There are many ways to be part of the state and local political process and to make sure your views are heard and represented. Here is a quick list.
VOTE!
Become involved in your political party (district and/or state levels)
Sign up to receive our emailed legislative updates
Serve on your local public school board. People with biblical values are desperately needed on school boards!
Testify and directly communicate with your district legislators on key bills
Volunteer to help our organization and/or similar organizations (e.g., help with events/rallies, writing op-eds, etc.)
Help mobilize churches and business leaders to engage in the political process
Volunteer to help with a political campaign
Financially support NDFA and organizations like us
Become a Church Ambassador to serve as a public policy liaison between your church and NDFA
Serve in the ND Legislature
Do you have resources we can use to get more involved in the political process?
Yes, please see our Resources page.