North Dakota Religious Groups, Law Enforcement speaking out against Recreational Marijuana legalization

(Fargo, ND) -- Religious groups and law enforcement agencies are speaking out against marijuana legalization.

The North Dakota Catholic Conference released a statement this week saying Catholics have an obligation to "protect human life and the common good."

North Dakota Sheriffs and Deputies, Police Chiefs, and Peace Officers Associations are all against the ballot measure.

“Don’t buy into the argument that legalization of recreational marijuana will free up law enforcement to focus on more serious crime,” said Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler in a statment released to WDAY Radio. “If that were true, why would law enforcement associations come out opposed to this measure? The many states that already have legalized marijuana are only now realizing the huge social cost. North Dakota voters can put a stop to this by voting No.”

The groups joined several others, like the North Dakota Farmers Union, the North Dakota Farm Bureau, the Greater North Dakota Chamber, the North Dakota Petroleum Council, the Lignite Energy Council and the North Dakota Catholic Council to raise awareness of what they call the "harmful effects" the legalization of recreational marijuana has already had in other states.

Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski says legalization would exacerbate this existing addiction issues in the state.

For more details on what would be law if recreational marijuana is passed, click here.