South Dakota voters will have a third opportunity to weigh in on the legalization of adult-use cannabis, as Initiated Measure 29 is set to appear on the 2024 general election ballot on November 5. This follows a successful campaign that collected 22,558 valid signatures, surpassing the requirement by approximately 5,000 signatures, as confirmed by Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office.
“This ballot question would legalize the recreational use, possession, and distribution of marijuana. The title for the ballot question will be Initiated Measure 29,” Johnson announced in a June 3 press release.
This will be the third attempt by South Dakota voters to approve cannabis for adult use. In November 2020, voters passed Amendment A, legalizing adult-use cannabis by a solid 54% margin. However, this measure was overturned by litigation led by state officials, including Governor Kristi Noem, who emphasized adherence to the rule of law and constitutional processes.
A subsequent initiative in 2022 was narrowly rejected by voters, with 52% opposing the measure. The 2020 vote also included a successful medical cannabis initiative, which was not challenged and remains in effect.
If passed, Initiated Measure 29 would allow adults aged 21 and over to purchase and possess up to two ounces of cannabis or 16 grams of concentrate, with a maximum of six plants per individual and a 12-plant limit per household. The measure also imposes a cap on cannabis possession, limiting it to 1,600 mg of THC in total.
The bill includes provisions for cultivating cannabis plants under specified restrictions. Should the measure pass, proponents plan to collaborate with the Legislature to establish business licensing, taxation, and regulatory frameworks.
Advocates for the measure, like Zebadiah Johnson, political director for the campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis, express optimism about the upcoming vote. “We firmly believe that South Dakotans deserve to make their own choices on how they live their lives, including the freedom to responsibly use cannabis,” Johnson stated.
Conversely, opponents, such as Jim Kinyon, chair of Protecting South Dakota Kids, argue that the repeated attempts to legalize recreational marijuana disregard previous voter decisions. “How many times does the state of South Dakota need to reject recreational marijuana before the industry will accept the decision of the state’s citizens?” Kinyon questioned.
The initiative’s placement on the ballot is the result of persistent efforts by advocates and canvassers. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) played a pivotal role, submitting a total of 29,030 signatures on May 7, just before the deadline. This achievement followed seven months of dedicated work by volunteers and paid canvassers.
“Today is the culmination of seven months of hard work by advocates and volunteers across South Dakota,” said SDBML executive director Matthew Schweich. “We are very confident that we have collected enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for this November’s ballot.”
As South Dakota prepares for the 2024 general election, voters will again decide whether to join the 24 states that have already legalized adult-use cannabis. If approved, South Dakota would become the 25th state to embrace this reform, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing national dialogue on cannabis legalization.
