Déjà vu all over again: Marijuana on the SD ballot

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

Back in 2020, voters approved Amendment A, which legalized marijuana. However, the head of the state Highway Patrol, acting at Gov. Kristi Noem’s direction, and the Pennington County sheriff challenged its legality. The state Supreme Court eventually said Amendment A violated the state constitution’s single-subject requirement.

And in 2022, voters turned down Initiated Measure 27, which would have legalized marijuana’s possession, distribution and use. Now in 2024, Initiated Measure 29 would do the same. Supporters held a news conference in Sioux Falls 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 makes the cartels not have to test.”

While IM 29 would legalize the drug for people 21 and older, former state lawmaker Rhonda Milstead says kids would be at risk. Milstead is executive director of the nonprofit Protecting South Dakota Kids.

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

Both sides are feeling optimistic ahead of the election.

“I think we’re in the mindset of just talking to the people who might be open-minded to change their vote, and then by Election Day we feel very confident in a 50% plus one result,” Jurgensen said.

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

Absentee voting for the 2024 general election is set to start Sept. 20.