North Dakota voters made the decision to not legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday. On the North Dakota ballot as Initiative Measure 5, 52.5% of voters rejected the ballot item, according to the Associated Press, which made the call shortly after 11 a ...

North Dakota voters' rejection of legalizing marijuana means the state will not join two dozen others in legalization.

This measure would allow for the production, sale, possession and use of cannabis by those 21 and over.

The measure to end local property taxes based on assessed value would have forced the state to provide an estimated $3.15 billion in replacement revenue to local governments during each two-year budget, according to a legislative panel. The state now forecasts about $5 billion in general tax revenues in the current two-year budget.

Tuesday's vote appears to mark a trend of narrowing the margin of opposition to recreational pot in North Dakota. Voters rejected legalizing recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2022, with 59% and 55% of voters opposed, respectively, compared to the 53% opposed late Tuesday.

With nearly all votes counted, an adult-use marijuana measure will fail in North Dakota while a South Dakota initiative to legalize adult-use growing was trailing.

North Dakota voters are deciding ballot measures to do away with the property tax, legalize recreational marijuana and to raise the bar for citizens to amend the state constitution