Amid debate over medical marijuana, initiated measure process may receive scrutiny

BISMARCK — The message from some who testified against proposed changes to North Dakota's new medical marijuana law was clear: State lawmakers should honor the will of the people.

The Compassionate Care Act's passage has helped ignite some debate about North Dakota's initiated measure process itself, and a Senate committee hearing Wednesday, Feb. 8, exposed some frustrations from medical marijuana supporters that legislators sought too many changes to the law voters chose to put on the books. Over the years, North Dakotans have used the power of the petition to consider measures on everything from banning smoking in public places to starting school after Labor Day.

State lawmakers are now deliberating whether to create a commission to examine North Dakota's initiated and referred measure process and recommend possible changes.

Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot, said his legislation wasn't a reaction to last year's passage of the medical marijuana law or the so-called "Marsy's Law" that enshrined certain rights for crime victims into the state Constitution. He pointed to several problems or questions that have come up over the years, such as the number of measures on any single ballot and the potential influence of "outside interests" on proposed measures.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4216124-measuring-amid-debate-over-medical-marijuana-initiated-measure-process-may-receive