North Dakota Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Medical Marijuana

North Dakota voters have approved Measure 5, which legalizes the medical use of marijuana for conditions such as cancer, AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, glaucoma, and epilepsy, and other debilitating medical conditions.

Patients will be permitted to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana. The initiative instructs the Department of Health to issue ID-cards for qualified patients and regulate non-profit compassion centers which will serve as dispensaries for patients. Individuals living more than 40 miles from a dispensary will be permitted to grow up to eight plants in their home.

The Drug Policy Alliance’s lobbying arm, Drug Policy Action, provided financial support for the campaign.

Earlier today, Florida became the first state in the South to approve medical marijuana.

DPA will hold a  teleconference tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12:30pm ET to discuss the national implications of today’s votes.  California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada voted on marijuana legalization, while Florida, Arkansas, North Dakota and Montana voted on medical marijuana.