{"id":56599,"date":"2022-08-16T04:36:59","date_gmt":"2022-08-16T12:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/08\/16\/south-dakota-governors-push-to-block-voter-approved-marijuana-legalization-slammed-in-campaign-ad\/"},"modified":"2022-08-16T08:45:38","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T16:45:38","slug":"south-dakota-governors-push-to-block-voter-approved-marijuana-legalization-slammed-in-campaign-ad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/08\/16\/south-dakota-governors-push-to-block-voter-approved-marijuana-legalization-slammed-in-campaign-ad\/","title":{"rendered":"South Dakota Governor\u2019s Push To Block Voter-Approved Marijuana Legalization Slammed In Campaign Ad"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A top South Dakota lawmaker and Democratic gubernatorial candidate is taking incumbent Gov. Kristi Noem (R) to task over her opposition to marijuana legalization and the role her administration played in overturning a voter-approved cannabis initiative last year.<\/p>\n

With another statewide legalization proposal set to appear on the ballot this November<\/a>, House Minority Leader Jamie Smith (D) is making clear that he will work with, not against, voters to ensure the policy change is actually enacted this time. And the candidate recently released a TV ad drawing a contrast on the issue with Noem.<\/p>\n

The spot features two people sitting at a bar watching the governor galavant on a horse and complaining about her \u201cundermining our votes and corrupting state government.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Overturning our cannabis vote? Pushing Amendment C? The conversation continues. pic.twitter.com\/0nIQJSU0rq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jamie Smith for SD Governor (@RepJamieSmith) August 14, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Smith, who ran unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial primary, is then show on screen saying that South Dakotans are \u201cgetting worn out by the crazy stuff,\u201d including Noem\u2019s focus on \u201coverturning our cannabis vote\u201d and her backing of a separate ballot measure that would have made it harder to pass voter initiatives (but which was rejected by the electorate in June).<\/p>\n

Noem\u2019s administration funded a legal challenge against the 2020 legalization vote that ultimately ended with the state Supreme Court invalidating the cannabis initiative on procedural grounds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The people of South Dakota voted for the legalization of recreational marijuana and that vote was not only ignored, but impeded by Gov. Noem at every turn. As your governor, I will fight for the will of South Dakotans to legalize recreational marijuana.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jamie Smith for SD Governor (@RepJamieSmith) June 12, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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In a series of social media posts, Smith has repeatedly called out Noem for standing opposite the will of the state\u2019s voters on cannabis, pointing out, for example, that more people voted for the 2020 legalization ballot measure than for the governor in 2018.<\/p>\n

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172,912 South Dakotans voted for Kristi Noem in 2018<\/p>\n

225,260 South Dakotans voted yes on recreational marijuana in South Dakota in 2020<\/p>\n

South Dakota\u2019s constitution says \u201cUnder God, the People Rule.\u201d It doesn\u2019t say \u201cUnder God, the People Rule unless Kristi Noem doesn\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jamie Smith for SD Governor (@RepJamieSmith) May 19, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A poll released in December 2021 found that most South Dakota voters approved of Noem\u2019s job performance overall, but just 39 percent supported her handling of marijuana legalization<\/a>, with 51 percent disapproving.<\/p>\n

Noem released an ad ahead of the 2020 election, urging residents to vote against the legalization initiative<\/a> that ultimately passed, 54 percent to 46 percent.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

More recently, however, the governor seems to be trying to associate herself with the implementation of a separate medical cannabis legalization initiative that voters also overwhelmingly approved in 2020, despite having opposed the proposal in the run-up to the election.<\/p>\n

After regulators approved rules for the medical marijuana program in September, Noem said her administration \u201cis fully on board to make certain South Dakota continues to implement the most responsible, patient-focused medical cannabis program in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noem tried to get the legislature to\u00a0approve a bill to delay implementation<\/a>\u00a0of the medical cannabis program for an additional year, but while it cleared the House, negotiators were unable to reach an agreement with the Senate in conference, delivering a defeat to the governor.<\/p>\n

In response,\u00a0her office started exploring a compromise last year<\/a>, with one proposal that came out of her administration to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, limit the number of plants that patients could cultivate to three and prohibit people under 21 from qualifying for medical marijuana.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jamie Smith For Governor (@smithforgov)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Following the court ruling that invalidated the earlier ballot box win, activists decided to take a two-track approach to the policy change in 2022, both working with legislators for a legislative reform while separately collecting signatures for the ballot initiative if lawmakers failed to act.<\/p>\n

While they would have preferred lawmakers to enact the policy change, that did not materialize this session. The House rejected a Senate-passed legalization bill<\/a>\u00a0in March, effectively leaving it up to activists to get on the ballot again.<\/p>\n

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) did successfully turn in enough signatures to qualify again for 2022. The organization said it intends to work with lawmakers on that measure while continuing to push for the ballot measure.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the campaign\u2019s marijuana legalization ballot\u00a0initiative<\/a>\u00a0would accomplish if approved by voters:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The measure would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to an ounce of cannabis. They could also grow up to three plants for personal use.<\/p>\n

It also lays out civil penalties for violating provisions related to issues such as public consumption or growing more plants than permitted.<\/p>\n

Employers would specifically be allowed to continue enforcing workplace drug policy prohibiting cannabis use by workers.<\/p>\n

State and local governments could continue to ban marijuana activities made legal under the initiative in buildings \u201cowned, leased, or occupied\u201d by a governmental body.<\/p>\n

The measure does not touch on regulatory policies concerning taxing cannabis sales, licensing or equity.<\/p>\n

A Marijuana Interim Study Committee, headed by legislative leaders, was established last year to explore cannabis policy reform, and the panel ultimately recommended that the legislature\u00a0take up legalization this session<\/a>. The House-defeated legislation was one of the direct products of that recommendation.<\/p>\n

A draft cannabis legalization bill has been formally recommended by the leadership panel for the upcoming session.<\/p>\n

With respect to the 2022 ballot, South Dakota is just one of several states where voters may decide on drug policy reform this November.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In neighboring North Dakota, the secretary of state certified that activists collected enough signatures to place a marijuana legalization initiative before voters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Arkansas Supreme Court recently ordered the secretary of state\u2019s office to certify a marijuana legalization initiative<\/a> for the November ballot\u2014but there\u2019s a chance that the votes will not end up being counted, depending on the final outcome of a pending legal challenge.<\/p>\n

Maryland elections officials have finalized the language for a marijuana legalization referendum<\/a>\u00a0that lawmakers placed on the November ballot, and have issued a formal summary of the reform proposal.<\/p>\n

The Oklahoma attorney general revised the ballot title of a marijuana legalization initiative<\/a>\u00a0that activists hope will be certified to go before the state\u2019s voters, making mostly technical changes that the campaign views as satisfactory.<\/p>\n

Missouri\u2019s secretary of state certified that activists turned in more than enough signatures to\u00a0qualify a marijuana legalization initiative for the November ballot<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Colorado voters will have the chance to\u00a0decide on a historic ballot initiative<\/a>\u00a0this November to legalize psychedelics and create licensed psilocybin \u201chealing centers\u201d where people can use the substance for therapeutic purposes.<\/p>\n

Nebraska advocates recently submitted signatures for a\u00a0pair of medical cannabis legalization initiatives<\/a>. The campaign has faced several challenges along the way, including the loss of critical funding after a key donor passed away and a\u00a0court battle of the state\u2019s geographic requirements<\/a>\u00a0for ballot petitions.<\/p>\n

An initiative to legalize marijuana\u00a0will not appear on Ohio\u2019s November ballot<\/a>, the campaign behind the measure announced in May. But activists did reach a settlement with state officials in a legal challenge that will give them a chance to hit the ground running in 2023.<\/p>\n

Michigan activists announced in June that they will no longer be pursuing\u00a0a statewide psychedelics legalization ballot initiative<\/a>\u00a0for this year\u2019s election and will instead focus on qualifying the measure to go before voters in 2024.<\/p>\n

The campaign behind an effort to decriminalize drugs and expand treatment and recovery services in Washington State said in June that it has\u00a0halted its push to qualify an initiative<\/a>\u00a0for November\u2019s ballot.<\/p>\n

While Wyoming activists said earlier this year that\u00a0they made solid progress in collecting signatures<\/a>\u00a0for a pair of ballot initiatives to decriminalize marijuana possession and legalize medical cannabis,\u00a0they didn\u2019t get enough to make the 2022 ballot deadline<\/a>\u00a0and will be aiming for 2024 while simultaneously pushing the legislature to advance reform even sooner.<\/p>\n

In March, California activists announced that they\u00a0came up short on collecting enough signatures<\/a>\u00a0to qualify a measure to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for the state\u2019s November ballot, though they aren\u2019t giving up on a future election cycle bid.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, there are various local reforms that activists want to see voters decide on this November\u2014including local marijuana decriminalization ordinances in\u00a0Ohio<\/a>,\u00a0West Virginia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wisconsin voters in at least half a dozen cities and counties\u00a0will be asked on November\u2019s ballot<\/a>\u00a0whether they support legalizing, taxing and regulating cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol. Those advisory questions will be non-binding, however, and are intended to take the temperature of voters and send a message to lawmakers about where their constituents stand.<\/p>\n

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Former Marijuana Regulators Call For 10 Equity Amendments To Bipartisan Cannabis Banking Bill<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post South Dakota Governor\u2019s Push To Block Voter-Approved Marijuana Legalization Slammed In Campaign Ad<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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A top South Dakota lawmaker and Democratic gubernatorial candidate is taking incumbent Gov. Kristi Noem (R) to task over her opposition to marijuana legalization and the role her administration played in overturning a voter-approved cannabis initiative last year. With another statewide legalization proposal set to appear on the ballot thisContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":56600,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56599"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56599"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56601,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56599\/revisions\/56601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}