Alaska marijuana could be the next big thing in American as a citizen's group submitted a petition containing 46,000 signatures voting for the legalization of recreational marijuana  to the state election office on Wednesday.

If at least 30,000 signatures are verified in the petition, the final decision of legalizing pot in America's northernmost state will be given to voters in the primary on Aug. 19. Verified signatures must come from a minimum of 7 percent of voters in at least 30 of the House districts.

"It's clear that Alaskans are eager to have an opportunity to express their displeasure with the current system and make a change," said Professor Tim Hinterberger of the University of Alaska Anchorage, who is also one of the sponsors of the cause.

Voters in Washington and Colorado state legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2013 and the citizens of Alaska are imitating Colorado voters in their efforts.

"We have no reason to think our campaign will be any less successful," Hinterberger declared.

Alaska state election officials are allowed up to 60 days to decide whether to accept or reject the initiatve for the ballot, confirmed Director Gail Fenumiai of the Alaska Division of Elections.

Alaska is known to have a complicated history with the drug.

In 1975, the Alaska Supreme Court declared that forbidding home use and possession of limited amounts of the drug was a violation of a constitutional right to privacy. Since the ruling, Alaska marijuana activists and other groups have pushed for its legalization, questioning the law and its implications.

The ruling made by the Supreme Court in 1975 did not specify how much marijuana was allowable but the Alaska Legislature defined less than 4 ounces as permissible in 1982 . 4 ounces was later on reduced to 1 ounce.