Attorney General Explanation released for proposed constitutional amendment to leglaize marijuana and pass laws regarding hemp and medical marijuana

ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPLANATION RELEASED FOR PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND PASS LAWS REGARDING HEMP AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced today an Attorney General Explanation for a proposed constitutional amendment has been filed with the Secretary of State. This explanation will appear on a petition that will be circulated by the sponsor of the constitutional amendment. If the sponsor obtains a sufficient number of signatures by November 2019, as certified by the Secretary of State, the proposed amendment may be placed on the ballot for the November 2020 general election.

The constitutional amendment is entitled “An amendment to the South Dakota Constitution to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana; and to require the Legislature to pass laws regarding hemp as well as laws ensuring access to marijuana for medical use.”

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and South Dakota Constitutional Amendments. The Attorney General Explanation is not a statement either for or against the proposed amendment.

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46 thoughts on “Attorney General Explanation released for proposed constitutional amendment to leglaize marijuana and pass laws regarding hemp and medical marijuana”

      1. Amending the constitution to it a drug in it…are you freaking kidding me???

        These potheads are out of control

        Don’t sign any petitions!

  1. “A lot of smart young people have seen the light.”

    You nailed it. The tide has turned. The end of the story is already written. Marijuana prohibition is in its death throes; it’s only a matter of time now. No state that has legalized will ever go back. Slowly but absolutely surely every state will figure this out.

    Yes, smart young people have seen the light. Problem is, in South Dakota, there are too many dumb old people who haven’t.

    1. The young people smoking pot are smart and the old people who have not smoke pot are stupid—- what a great campaign slogan

      1. If all I know about a proposal is that people in their 70s and 80s oppose it, that’s enough for me to support it.

        1. Well lets help you learn–since this proposed amendment covers all 3 areas of recreational, medical and hemp–

          increased juvenile use
          increased DUIs
          no market for hemp
          no crop insurance for hemp
          no bank will lend money for hemp
          there are no FDA rules for hemp
          increased likelihood of developing schizophrenia
          increased violence acts
          it does not curtail opioid use, in fact opioid use went up in the states it passed
          England after moving it down to a class C (lowest) drug moved it back up to a class B drug, because of studies showing many of the above were in fact true, despite pro-pot people’s assertions

    2. No state has ever turned back? Their state budgets have taken a hit and legalization has been a drain on them outpacing the tax revenue. The citizens of Pueblo County Colorado is at least one county that tried to repeal legalization including first responders and the medical community but were heavily outspent by the Drug Policy Alliance funded by billionaires like George Soros looking to cash in.

      Fiscally there is no way the State of South Dakota can afford to legalize recreational marijuana sold as medical as in these measures nor recreational MJ. Taxes would go up even higher or cuts in services would be made so a very small minority could get legally stoned and an even smaller minority would make money and it’s all about the money in this addiction for profit scheme.

      1. Correct, no state has ever turned back. This is something that’s called a fact. You should learn what those are.

        Conversely, your claim that “state budgets have taken a hit” is a falsehood, and, if stated with knowledge of its falsity, a lie. You obviously have a solid grasp on the use of dishonesty, which is clear for all to see.

        1. That is correct. Legal recreational marijuana states, which shows that cooler heads make better decisions have budget surpluses.

        2. False. As stated before a recent study out of Colorado shows that it costs that state $4.50 in support services for every $1.00 in pot tax revenue.

          California has had a very difficult time with their deeply entrenched black market targeting legitimate legal pot shops there. Law enforcement cannot keep up and does not have the resources in dealing with the fly by night illegal pot shops that obviously do not have all the overhead nor pay any sales tax. Plus they can sell to minors and deliver to cities in California where pot sops are not permitted and opted out.

          The illegal grows are so bad in NorCal that they had to call out the California National Guard adding more expense to taxpayer, Murder rate in that region is very high. “Murder Mountain”. The there is the massive environmental damage from those grows which are targeted to the California market..

          Other states and Canada are having chronic issues. It is not worth the trouble and the pot pushers addicts and those looking to cash in are now having a very difficult time getting legalization passed with all the baggage it brings now that they can no longer whitewash.

          1. Difficult time getting legalization passed? It wins almost everywhere it gets voted on. Medical wins by massive margins. Utah passed it! Oklahoma passed it!

            Your head is so far up your ass you can chew your food twice before it comes out.

            1. 9 states have voted it down so far including New York, New Jersey and several others. Legalization of recreational Marijuana has come to a dead stop other than Illinois which is just Illinois being corrupt with former Governors in prison. It was predicted to happen in 2019 in Minnesota and it didn’t. All those lies, whitewashing and manipulation of data are being exposed from states that fell for this scam.

              1. Plus New Approach South Dakota wants recreational–they say it in their meetings and they have another ballot measure on the secretary of state website for recreational.

                Medical is a joke, it is just a step toward recreational.

                Don’t sign any petitions.

        3. Condescending punk Learn to show some respect

          Can we add an amendment that we will not take care of any of your medical costs related to this boondoggle because all those lung cancer, schizophrenic cars are all going to add up and you knew you’re gonna want us to pay for those two

          1. You don’t deserve any respect.

            The quality of your writing is indicative of the quality of your thought. Both are shit.

  2. Doesn’t this amendment violate the single subject rule we just passed last year?

    It looks like it’s trying to address recreational medical and Hamp all in one

  3. This proposed constitutional amendment is all about recreational drug use, not medical marijuana. I believe, as one commenter stated, that it’s all about the money, likely money to be made by out of state marijuana proponents. Do we really want recreational marijuana in SD? I well understand that people want to get high, and when they do, there are numerous negative consequences.

    1. Since when is making money bad? The opportunity exists for everyone, not just out of state proponents. Take some initiative. It’s called capitalism.

      1. “Since when is making money bad?” When an extremely small minority make a lot of money and the taxpayers, communities, business owners, automobile owners (insurance rates increase higher frequency of crashes) friends and family members end up shouldering the costs.

        First it is recreational marijuana sold as medical with all kinds of manipulative tactics.

        2nd is recreational

        3rd magic mushrooms and other psychedelics.

        4th all drugs legalized where they are promoted, normalized and commercialized.

        That is the game plan by the Drug Policy Alliance which is a national lobbying group well funded by George Soros and other billionaires looking to cash in. It looks like an old Cold War Strategy by the Soviets. Destroy America from within.

      1. That has been debunked. The latest study out shows that states w/ medical MJ had an increase of Opioid overdoses.

  4. Why do the tokers of the demon weed include hemp in their heinous measure to be initiated if hemp is as mild and genteel a shrubbery as some claim?

  5. Comments above from the prohibitionists — full of deceit, dishonesty, and fear mongering — are akin to what an animal does when cornered and out of options. This is the desperate behavior of individuals who know they have no hope.

    1. What BS–there are tons of studies showing the harmful effects, increase in schizophrenia, increase in juvenile use, increase in DUIs, increase in home invasions , etc

      There are lots of stats and studies ….but you saying we are deceitful, dishonest and fear mongering will not win us over—

      1. No one is trying to win you over. There isn’t anyone who wants to smoke pot that isn’t already doing it. It’s already everywhere and easily available. No one is currently going without.

        Truly, the ones who benefit most from legalization are the non smokers, who finally get some tax revenue from the commerce that’s already happening.

        1. That is another recycled and tired false myth put out by potheads. It is a very small minority that is smoking weed and many times a social group of dead enders.

          Fiscally puts state and local government budgets in the red. Puts our businesses in a weaker competitive position with increased liability costs, finding workers that can pass a drug test, higher absenteeism, lower productivity and the list goes on.

  6. After the potheads lose again they can schedule another pot protest parade at the 2021 SD State Fair and promise thousands will show up like last time. Oh! That was hilarious!

    1. Great point!

      Our state does not want this crap.

      They are a vocal super minority…who have no money for a campaign…how do you run any campaign without money…out begging for a few hundred for booths and insurance…and that is just to get it on the ballot which has twice been rejected by the people at the ballot box and again by the people for not wanting to sign petitions

      NO signing and a NO vote for me!

  7. Maybe it’s time to ask Pat’s readers if this measure gets on the ballot and passes how should the legislature respond to the results?

    1. full repeal would be good and make the pot heads lose what little of their minds they had left!

      1. This is a constitutional amendment, you dumbfuqs. The legislature can’t mess with it.

  8. Given there are only about 75 days until petitions must be turned in, and Constitutional Amendments require 33921 signatures (452 a day), I don’t think I have much confidence in their success.

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