The South Dakota Senate wants to decriminalize marijuana for adults over the age of 21.
Voters legalized both medical and recreational pot with ballot measures last November. Implementation of the recreational cannabis program is delayed because of legal challenges.
Republican State Senator Blake Curd authored the new amendment. The Sioux Falls Republican says the last minute measure respects what voters said in November while the state implements a medical marijuana program.
“It allows the will of the people to be said—at least to some degree,” Curd says. “It also gives the Department of Health time to develop the robust medical marijuana that they have stated to us on numerous occasions that is their desire to do so.”
The proposal strips the class one misdemeanor for possession of an ounce or less of pot. It also removes the state’s possession by ingestion of marijuana.
Senators passed the bill with 31 in favor and four against.
The bill now heads back to the House chamber, where lawmakers can approve the amendments or take it to a conference committee.