Proposed Ballot Measures | Video

Kristin Clouston | 8/6/2012

The November election is still a few months away, but measures need to be filed with the state prior to midnight on August 8. Measures calling for oaths of office for elected and appointed officials and elimination of the annual pole tax, were filed last week.

Today signatures were turned in for a measure that would legalize medical marijuana and one that would create a clean water, lands and outdoor heritage fund.

Sponsors of the measure that would create the Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Fund say they collected more than 36,000 signatures and are confident voters will support it.

"Things were changing so rapidly and we were seeing greater interest in the state and conservation programs. They are really under funded and states around us have done similar measures to this and it`s worked really well, it`s really a popular model across the midwest," said sponsor Steve Adair.

Those trying to legalize medicinal marijuana say they turned in more than 20,000 signatures.

"This is not about legalization across the board. This is about friends and families and their neighbors that may be going through pain, that may be going through PTSD, through Alzheimer`s, through chemotherapy, that this is something that would benefit them," said sponsor Dave Schwartz.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Those working to legalize it in North Dakota say it`s simply a matter of education.

"It was a challenge, but it`s no different than any other challenge trying to gather signatures. I`m sure some of the other groups also had moments when they were looking at how many signatures they were bringing in, but it was a process that went fairly well," Schwartz said.

So far, four measures have made it to the November ballot. A group calling for stricter animal cruelty laws will be turning in its signatures Tuesday morning.

You can read the full proposed measures on the Secretary of State`s website.

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