North Dakota
Today in History, 1962: Minot man charged under North Dakota law banning the sale of candy cigarettes
On this day in 1962, a Minot store manager was charged under North Dakota’s 1953 ban on candy cigarettes, setting up the law’s first court test over whether bubble gum cigarettes counted as illegal “confectionery.”
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
Minot Man Charged in Candy Cigarette Case Challenges 1953 Law
“I’d heard something about such a law but I thought they were kidding me,” the manager of the S. S. Kresge store in Minot said Friday after he was arrested and charged with displaying and possessing packaged candy cigarettes.
“I was the stock man in the Kresge store in Fargo when the law was passed in 1953, prohibiting the sale of candy cigarettes,” John H. Larson said.
“But I never paid any attention to it; I never knew it existed,” he added.
Larson, who lived in Moorhead and worked in the Fargo Kresge store from 1952 to 1959, said he had heard mention of the law but he didn’t think talk about it was serious.
Minot police Capt. Floyd Rouse had noticed a small girl in the business area of Minot with bubble gum cigarettes and a police investigation led to Larson’s arrest Friday.
It was, to any state official’s recollection, the first such charge made under the 10-year-old law, which attracted nationwide attention to North Dakota when it was passed.
Larson intends to plead innocent to the charge, because the article in question is a roll of white paper-covered bubble gum. He claims, therefore, that it is not a candy or a confectionery, which the law specifically states it is illegal to sell if designed to imitate cigarettes.
“Bubble gum is not candy or a confectionery,” Larson said.
The dictionary actually doesn’t help, because it says a confectionary is a sweetmeat, or something prepared and sold by a confectioner, or a candy.
And a confection, the dictionary says, is “a preparation of roots or fruits, etc., with sugar; a sweetmeat; preserve; confit.”
And a confit is a dry sweetmeat.
So it looks as if the law is headed for its first court test.
Larson was released on his own recognizance and is expected to appear on the charge next week.
The 1953 Legislature passed the law to do its part in keeping youngsters from smoking.
The bill stated the intent:
“…such candy or confectionery products and the purchase and use thereof by minors readily create a desire on the part of such minors to purchase and use genuine cigarettes or other tobacco products.”
The law provides a penalty on conviction of not more than a $1,000 fine, 90 days in jail, or both.
The bill was initiated in the state Senate under the sponsorship of state Sen. Agnes Geelan of Ransom, now a member of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission, and the late Sen. E. C. Stucke of McLean.
Larson said his store and all the other Kresge stores in the nation had received a carton of the imitation cigarettes through its nationwide chain store outlets. Minot police confiscated and held 19 packages of the gum.
Larson said he offered to throw out the merchandise, which was being offered as part of a store closing-out sale, but police refused to permit that.
“Those guys over there (the police) don’t know what they got into,” Larson laughingly told The Forum.
He said the gum was a popular item.
“They went like hot cakes,” he said.
The candy cigarette law wasn’t the only one of its kind the 1953 Legislature wrestled with by a long shot.
The session got more nationwide publicity than any other in many a year because of it and these other bills which were introduced, but which did not pass:
★ An anti-treat bill, designed to prevent the buying of a drink by a friend.
★ A bill which would have forbidden dancing in the dark.
★ A bill which would have made it obligatory that a beauty parlor close at 5:30 p.m. on the dot — whether or not a customer’s hair was ready. The reason for that bill apparently stemmed from an angry legislator whose dinner had been kept waiting because his wife was in a beauty parlor.
The Senate passed the candy cigarette law 41 to 7.
Among the few not voting for it was former Sen. Kenneth Pyle of Cass, who explained his vote by reading a telegram he said he had received that day and which was signed by all his grandchildren. It read:
“Dear Grandpa. Please don’t let them take our candy from us.”
The bill passed the House by a vote of 68 to 39 after long debate, some serious and some tongue-in-cheek.
Former Rep. A. C. Langseth of Eddy-Foster, among many others, spoke for the bill. He said:
“If the health and morals of our young people are not worth legislating for, I don’t know what is.”
Former Rep. Guy Larson of Burleigh observed:
“There is one ingredient lacking in the bill — common sense.”
BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — As the snow continues accumulating in the Bismarck/Mandan area and surrounding communities, the roads will become snow-covered and slippery.
Accumulations of 7-8 inches are expected in Bismarck, and more snow is expected further south, with as much as 9-12 inches projected to accumulate in Ashley.
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) is advising people to drive carefully, as blowing snow can reduce visibility and slippery roads can make it difficult to maneuver a car.
The NWS is also advising people to leave extra time for travel, have an emergency kit in their car, and tell others about their travel plans.
Conditions are expected to improve from west to east on Saturday.
North Dakota
Local North Dakota health units to recognize National Public Health Week with statewide walking event
BISMARCK — In recognition of
National Public Health Week
, all 28 local public health units across North Dakota will participate in “Stroll N Roll North Dakota,” a statewide walking event designed to promote physical activity and social connection. Local public health units are inviting community members to lace up their walking shoes and move together.
“Stroll N Roll North Dakota” will take place throughout the day on Wednesday, April 8. Individuals of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate at a time that works best for them. Walking, biking, rollerblading and the use of wheelchairs, strollers or other mobility devices are all welcome. While there is no minimum time requirement, adults are encouraged to aim for 30 minutes of activity, consistent with recommendations from the American Heart Association. This statewide event is sponsored by the
North Dakota State Association of City and County Health Officials
(ND SACCHO), a group that helps coordinate local public health efforts across the state.
Each year, National Public Health Week takes time to celebrate the impact of public health and highlight priority issues that can improve the nation’s well-being. The theme for 2026 is “Ready. Set. Action!” and will focus on how the work of public health improves the lives of residents, provides safeguards for families and strengthens communities. “Stroll N Roll North Dakota” complements this message by promoting physical activity, which supports heart health, mental health, chronic disease prevention and social connection.
Contact your local public health unit at
https://www.ndsaccho.org/local-public-health-units/
for details.
Participants are encouraged to share photos and use the hashtag #StrollNRollND on social media.
BISMARCK — The North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments on Thursday, April 2, over a lawsuit challenging voter-approved
term limits for state lawmakers.
The lawsuit, filed in late January, claims the Legislature violated the state constitution when it passed a resolution creating a ballot measure during the 2025 session, just four years after voters approved term limits.
In 2022, North Dakota residents approved capping term limits to eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate. Supporters of the original amendment say it included a clause barring the Legislature from making constitutional changes to term limits.
“Those term limits may only be altered by a measure proposed by the people rather than the Legislative Assembly. And yet a few years later, the Legislative Assembly is doing what they are prohibited from doing,” said Zachary Wallen, lawyer for the petitioners.
Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune
During the 2025 session, lawmakers narrowly approved an amendment that would allow them to decide in which chamber they want to serve their 16 years. That plan requires voter approval.
“The people are voting on this, they have an opportunity to speak their voice on this,” said Brian Schmidt, lawyer for the North Dakota Legislature.
Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune
Justice Jon Jensen questioned whether a second vote was appropriate. “The public did speak on this. The public spoke on it when it passed the original constitutional amendment and they said ‘Legislature, you don’t even get to propose a change.’ They have already spoken on it. You want a second shot, or a second bite at the apple, not a first one, a second,” Jensen said.
Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune
A central question is whether the Supreme Court has the authority to issue an opinion in the case before the amendment process is complete.
“This court has said it will not pass (judgment) on the constitutionality of a proposed amendment until that process is complete. The process is not complete yet,” Schmidt said.
The Secretary of State’s office wants the Supreme Court to issue an opinion by the end of June so the office has enough time to prepare for the general election in November.
Grand Forks County Commissioner Terry Bjerke and former Minot Republican Sen. Oley Larsen filed the lawsuit.
Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune
Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.
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