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- Voters in South Dakota rejected Initiated Measure 27, which would have legalized marijuana use for adults over the age of 21.
- Proponents claimed that the measure was about “personal liberty.”
- Opponents claimed that legalization would lead to consumer addiction.
South Dakota has rejected recreational marijuana use by adults 21 years and older. Initiated Measure 27 was rejected by more than half the voters. This would have legalized marijuana usage and possession.
Ballot measure details
Measure 27, also known as the Marijuana Legalization Initiative (Male 27), would have legalized marijuana possession and use for adults aged 21 and over. The initiative, if passed, would have limited marijuana possession to just one ounce.
Opposition and support
South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws sponsored this measure. The measure was supported by those who claimed it is about “personal liberty.”
“I would refer to Measure 27 as cannabis legalization by the individual. It doesn’t include licensing regulations or taxation. It’s all about personal freedom and ensuring small amounts of cannabis don’t make you a criminal,” Matthew Schweich (campaign leader for Yes on 27), said. KELO TV.
Protecting South Dakota Kids was at the forefront of the opposition to the measure. It argued that legalization would result in an addiction for consumers as well as an increase in car crashes due to intoxicated motorists.
“More minorities are being held in Colorado for marijuana use since legalization. Car crashes related to pot, young adult use, workplace positives, and other issues are on the rise in legal states. To reform the criminal justice system, we don’t need to legalize pot. “We can remove criminal penalties, erase records, and offer justice, without commercializing today’s pure THC marijuana products,” the coalition stated on its website. Website.
What experts have to say
In 2020, South Dakota voters Passed Amendment A, a measure that aimed to legalize marijuana for adults over 21, but a lawsuit filed by Gov. Kristi Noem It was taken down.
Schweich told OpenSecretsInitiated Measure 27 was “a shorter and simpler version” (Amendment A).
