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South Dakota prepares for third marijuana vote in four years

The 2024 election will be the third time recreational marijuana restrictions are in front of South Dakota voters. This time, on Initiated Measure 29

Marijuana is currently legal for recreational use in 24 states, along with DC and two territories.

Rhonda Milstead is the executive director of Protecting South Dakotas Kids, an anti-marijuana group. Speaking at the Vote South Dakota Forum, she described pot as a dangerous drug with little economic benefit.

"Marijuana leads to other drug addictions, that’s what kills people," Milstead said. "They’re addicted to meth, they’re addicted to opioids, they want something more. That’s where marijuana leads. They’re saying there’s going to be this great revenue stream for the state. The states that have legalized it aren’t finding this revenue. If they would they’d be paving their streets with gold, and what are they? Lining up tents on their streets. That’s what happens with marijuana.”

Supporters of the measure say these concerns are overblown. Matthew Schweich, executive director for South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, said prohibition is far more harmful than legalization, and contests Milstead’s claim of regret in legal states.

“The proof is in the pudding," Schweich said. "$15 billion in tax revenue have been generated by states, that includes $132 million in just a couple of years over in Montana. In those 24 states, and that’s happened since 2012, not a single one of those states has repealed the policy. In none of those states has a repeal bill passed a state House or state Senate, let alone a state legislature.”

In 2020, South Dakota voters successfully passed a legalization bill which was struck down by the state Supreme Court on a technicality. In 2022, voters defeated a second attempt on a narrow margin.

C.J. Keene is a Rapid City-based journalist covering the legal system, education, and culture