North Dakota voters defeated a measure calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana.

The outcome of the proposal wasn’t clear until Wednesday morning. North Dakota is one of a handful of states, including Florida and South Dakota, where recreational marijuana measures went before voters. Two dozen states have legalized recreational marijuana, the most recent being Ohio in 2023.

North Dakota voters rejected past measures in 2018 and 2022. The state’s Senate defeated two House-passed bills for legalization and taxation in 2021.

The measure sought to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and older to use at their homes and, if permitted, on others’ private property. The measure also outlined production and processing regulations, prohibited uses — such as in public or in vehicles — and would have allowed home cultivation of plants.

Supporters said the measure would have allowed law enforcement to focus limited resources on more important issues, such as fentanyl. Opponents said marijuana has harmful physiological and societal effects.

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Like most hockey players, TJ Semptimphelter’s love for the game started with Learn to Skate lessons, and early on, he found out the crease was his home.

“I would go and sit in the crease, and I would tug on the instructor’s pants and say ‘Hey, can you let me put the pads on? I don’t want to skate around in circles. I want to go in the crease and move around,’” Semptimphelter said. “I think, ever since then, I just had a love for the position.

“It’s been a perfect marriage ever since, and I’m glad I made that decision.”

Semptimphelter is playing his final season of college hockey at North Dakota, but his journey to Grand Forks is a unique, cross-country venture.

His college hockey career began at Northeastern in the 2021-22 season, where he backed up Devon Levi, who is now a goalie for the Buffalo Sabres.

“It was just great to have that ability to watch him and continue to implement little things in my game,” Semptimphelter said. “We’re kind of a similar stature, we like to play similar games, and it was great to just pick apart what he’s doing that allows him to have success, and then trying my best to implement that in my game.”

Then, he picked up his stride at Arizona St., where much heavier playing time helped TJ become one of the best goalies in Sun Devil history.

“It was great for me to just develop that endurance, I think, and that was a huge piece that I really gained from ASU, just really being ready for those back-to-back games, those long series when you’re on the road, and you’re not sure when you’re coming back home,” Semptimphelter said.

Now, the transfer goalie is embarking on his final collegiate campaign with North Dakota, a program that caught his attention two years ago, when UND faced TJ and Arizona State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Las Vegas.

“I remember coming out, T-Mobile Arena, looking around, and there was just a sea of green, everywhere I looked,” Semptimphelter said. “I think just feeling that level of support really drew me to this program, and I think fans, they might not always realize this, but how powerful it is to have that kind of support and that kind of energy behind you.”

And TJ is enjoying every moment.

“There’s nothing better than when they’re calling out the starting lineups, and just hearing the whole section going crazy for you and everybody else that’s joining you on the lines,” Semptimphelter said. “We want to do everything we can to bring a national championship home, not only for us and the staff, but for this amazing fanbase.”

North Dakota begins conference play this weekend when UND heads east to face off with Minnesota-Duluth starting Friday at 7:07 p.m.

Copyright 2024 KVLY. All rights reserved.

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — Staff at one car dealership in North Dakota are giving back to the community the best way they know how — by selling cars.

For the second year in a row, Devils Lake Cars is donating money to the Devils Lake Public School System.

During the month of November, they’ll donate more than $100 per car sold to the school’s Angel Fund.

That will cover the cost of more than 30 meals in the school system. The donations also cover negative balances for student’s school lunches. You can also donate to the the Angel Fund year-round.

“We try to do things differently being in a smaller community,” Ben Bergstrom, the co-owner at Devils Lake Cars, said. “It’s a cool promotion not just because we get to give back to the community but also how the team gets involved.”

Last year, they raised more than $20,000 dollars, covering nearly 6,000 lunches and were able to eliminate almost all outstanding balances.