Déjà vu again: marijuana on the SD ballot

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — South Dakota voters have been here before.

In 2020, voters approved Amendment A, which legalized marijuana. the head of the state Highway Patrol, acting at the direction of Gov. Kristi Noem, and the Pennington County sheriff challenged its legalityThe state Supreme Court ultimately said Amendment A violated the single-subject requirement in the state constitution.

And in 2022, voters have refused Initiated Measure 27, which would legalize the possession, distribution and use of marijuana. Now, in 2024, Initiated Measure 29 would do the same. Supporters held a news conference in Sioux Falls on Thursday afternoon.

“Legalizing this product is what makes it the safest and most regulated,” said Brad Jurgensen, who sits on the executive committee for the Yes on 29 ballot committee. “Keeping it illegal is what keeps the cartels from having to do testing.”

While IM 29 would legalize the drug for people 21 and oldersays former state legislator Rhonda Milstead says children are at risk. Milstead is executive director of the nonprofit Protecting South Dakota Kids.

“Why do we want to undermine the future of our children by bringing a drug into South Dakota, which is exactly what it is,” Milstead said. “It’s all about money, and we’re not okay with that.”

Both parties are optimistic about the elections.

“I think we are in the mindset that we only talk to people who are open to a different voting behavior, and then on election day we have full confidence in a result of 50% plus one,” Jurgensen said.

“I have confidence that the people of South Dakota recognize this for what it is,” Milstead said. “It’s going to hurt our children. It’s going to hurt our people. We have a great way of life and we don’t want to ruin that.”

Voting by mail for the 2024 general election begins on September 20.