South Dakota's governor believes legalization is a mistake

Just days after South Dakota legalized both medical and recreational marijuana in Tuesday's election, the Republican government said Kristi Noem the state's voters made the "wrong choice". Noem commented on this in a statement released Thursday by Dakota News Now.

"I was personally against these measures and I firmly believe they are the wrong choice for the South Dakota communities," Noem said. "We have to find ways to strengthen our families and I think we are taking a step back in that effort," added the first term governor. Voting on recreational and medical marijuana at SD Two cannabis measures appeared on the South Dakota ballot paper asking voters to decide whether to legalize recreational cannabis and medical marijuana separately.

Action 26 now directs the South Dakota Department of Health to establish a registration system for patients with qualified health conditions, including those who cause severe pain, seizures, muscle spasms, or nausea. The measure allows registered patients the possession of up to three ounces of cannabis and creates a regulatory and tax framework for the production of commercial medical cannabis. Voters also approved Amendment A, which legalizes the use of cannabis by adults aged 21 and over. Owning up to one ounce of marijuana and growing up to three cannabis plants is permitted by the measure. The state treasury will be responsible for licensing and regulating commercial marijuana businesses.

Sales of non-medicinal cannabis are taxed at a 15% tax rate, with half of the proceeds going to South Dakota public schools and the remainder going to the state's general fund. Both campaigns were supported by the South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws. State officials are working to implement legalization The South Dakota Department of Treasury announced Wednesday that it is working with the state's Department of Health to develop regulations to implement the two initiatives, due to take effect July 1 next year. As part of the initiatives, the Ministry of Finance must create a system for licensing commercial companies by April 2022.

Despite Noem's opposition to legal marijuana for reasons of public safety, she lamented the regulatory infrastructure needed to implement a safe marijuana market in line with voters' wishes. "I am also very disappointed that we will add millions of dollars to the state government in public safety costs and the establishment of this new regulatory system," she said in her statement on Thursday. Governor fought against top-level initiatives In the run-up to the election, Noem campaigned against both cannabis legalization initiatives and called on South Dakotans to vote against the measures in television and other political commercials.

"I ran for governor to tell people that I want to start stronger families and create more opportunities for our children, and I just don't see hash smoking as a way to help people get better," said the governor in an interview in October. But proponents of the initiatives said that Noem's opposition was in conflict with her professed belief in personal freedom, which she cited as a justification for her refusal to issue house arrest or mask mandates during the coronavirus pandemic.

In South Dakota, the COVID-19 virus test positivity rate is currently 51%. "Without wishing to go into the governor's stance on COVID prevention per se, I firmly believe that the governor's many statements on freedom and personal responsibility contradict her position on the marijuana legalization reforms that are in Amendment A and Action 26 are included, which are linked, "said Drey Samuelson, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws political director, ahead of the election.