A medical marijuana program approved by voters in November will become law on July first.
Republican Representative Gregg Jamison, of Sioux Falls, says legislators from both chambers worked hard on a compromise delaying the implementation of Initiated Measure 26, but they reached an impasse.
“Let’s take this moment to reunify us together. We will bring back IM26 to the people as they voted for it,” Jamison says. “Job well done.”
It’s a blow to Governor Kristi Noem, who early this session, said the state needed until July first of 2022 to implement a medical marijuana program correctly. A few weeks later, her office said the state could get one implemented by January 1.
On Monday, the state Senate added provisions that decriminalized up to one ounce of marijuana possession for adults over 21. The House did not like those changes, but the Senate didn’t budge.
Since neither chamber could agree, the delay on IM 26 died in the House chamber.
It was the last major hurdle for lawmakers this session. All that’s effectively left to pass is the state budget.
