Backers of a voter approved cannabis reform package claim a lawsuit against their initiative was brought too late.
That’s according to the answer filed in the suit brought by Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom and South Dakota Highway Patrol Colonel Rick Miller. The suit claims Amendment A was improperly ratified by voters.
The answer was filed by Brendan Johnson, who is the president of South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws.
The answer filed Monday in Hughes Count Court also states Thom and Miller failed to allege any irregularity in the election process.
It also says Thom and Miller lack standing to bring the election contest in their official capacities.
Thom and Miller say Constitutional Amendment A improperly adds a new article to the state constitution. And state constitutional amendments can only amend current articles already in the state constitution.
Last week, South Dakota’s assistant Attorney General Grant Flynn asked the courts to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the contestants failed to allege irregularities or voter suppression.
-Contact SDPB reporter Lee Strubinger by email.