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What Measure 3 does is rather simple, it removes marijuana from the list of Schedule 1 Substances, and as a result, legalizes it for personal consumption, use, distribution, and possession for all North Dakotans over the age of 21. Additionally, it seals previous records so long as they were of age, did not distribute to minors, and were non-violent. Lastly, it legalizes hemp for full scale agricultural production, a crop which per bushel is worth 9 to 11 times that of wheat depending on the commodity prices, while taxing both marijuana and hemp at an effective rate of between 8 percent and 14 percent (depending on your local city sales tax).

So, what does this really mean for the average North Dakotan and their community?

1.) Starting Dec. 6, adults are no longer torn away from their children for simple possession, breaking apart families and creating dependents on the state rather than contributors. College students no longer risk losing their student loans or the ability to ever find employment for daring to go to a party with friends.