Only 17,508 valid signatures are needed, so chances are good the measure will go to the voters. South Dakota cannabis activists are hoping the third time is a charm.
A political campaign in the state called South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws said on Tuesday that it submitted more than 29,000 voter signatures to the state in favor of a ballot measure to legalize cannabis for adult-use, the Associated Press reported. Only 17,508 valid signatures are needed, so chances are good the measure will go to the voters.
If approved by the secretary of state, it'll be the third time that South Dakotans get to weigh in on whether to legalize recreational cannabis. The issue first won in 2020 with 54% of the vote – the same year voters also legalized medical cannabis – but courts later struck down the adult-use measure via the courts in a lawsuit backed by Gov. Kristi Noem.
When advocates put recreational cannabis back on the ballot in 2022, it failed 53%-47%. The current campaign, which is supported by the Marijuana Policy Project, would legalize personal possession, use, and cultivation. But the ballot question leaves specifics on an industry structure – including business license caps and tax rates – to the legislature.
Read the entire article at Green Market Report