Category: Uncategorized

This postcard hit mailboxes this week on Against Amendment V.  Obviously, I didn’t design this one, as it’s too small (about 4×6), and too subtle. (There’s no time in the election for subtlety).

Has anyone seen the bizarre new Yes on V commercial? I’m watching it, and I had to rewind it and watch again. The voices are out of synch with the video, making it look like you’re watching the actors in a 1950’s Godzilla movie.

Attorney General Jackley Addresses Research and Development for Medical Marijuana Derivatives with the FDA and DEA

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley continues to work with the FDA and DEA to address research and development for medical marijuana and its derivatives.

“As Attorney General, I am hopeful that research will conclude marijuana derivatives will help treat a child experiencing seizures or the pain of a cancer patient. I am urging the FDA and DEA to consider accelerated research of marijuana for treatment purposes. If marijuana is determined to provide a medical benefit, I believe safeguards for public health and safety can be put in place which include FDA approval, a South Dakota doctor prescribing the drug, and a South Dakota pharmacist dispensing the drug,” said Attorney General Jackley.

On August 19, 2016, Attorney General Jackley provided correspondence to the DEA and FDA urging consideration of an accelerated research and development process for marijuana derivatives. While Attorney General Jackley made clear he was not endorsing a particular area of research or marijuana use, he believes that the public health aspect justifies both the DEA and the FDA revisiting the research restrictions   as it relates to marijuana with an eye towards medical research in a controlled environment.

The DEA response on October 13, 2016, outlined several steps that have been taken to address the FDA approval process including with Cannabidiol (CBD). The DEA set forth that “while the DEA shares your desire to facilitate research with CBD, and to carry out any scheduling actions that are supported by the medical and scientific evidence, as you undoubtedly recognize the protection of the public health and safety must remain of paramount  consideration.”

Attorney General Jackley agrees and believes three important conditions must be satisfied for public health and safety reasons: 1) FDA approval for marijuana or one or more of the derivatives as a safe and effective drug; 2) A South Dakota doctor to prescribe the drug; and 3) A South Dakota pharmacist to dispense the drug.

In December 2015, the DEA adopted a new policy to waive certain regulatory requirements to those who are conducting research with CBD to include those conducting trials with CBD no longer have to request approval from the DEA before implementing changes to their research protocols.

In August 2016, the DEA adopted a new policy whereby additional entities may apply to become registered to grow marijuana for the purpose of supplying researchers. In addition, the DEA continues to assess the current regulatory requirements for conducting research with CBD to determine whether it can take further steps to reduce the regulatory burden while continuing to protect the public health and safety.

The DEA recognizes the possibility that drugs containing CBD might be proven to be safe and effective for the treatment of certain conditions and with FDA approval for marketing. The DEA closed the correspondence with their assurance they will strive to make it easier for research while keeping the public  safe.

Links to letters below:

http://stage7.atg.sd.gov/docs/Medical%20Marijuana.DEA.pdf

-30-

There always should be one story that makes you laugh out loud. Tonight’s is about Jay Williams:

According to our KELO TV scientific poll, if the election were held today, Thune would defeat Democrat Jay Williams by a wide margin, 65% to 27%, 8% are still undecided.

Only Williams doesn’t see it that way.

“Maybe the polls are trending, because I just saw a poll yesterday where it had 58% to 38%, I had virtually the same numbers as Secretary Clinton had, which I hope is the case,” Williams said.

Read it here.

Man, is Jay Williams going to be beaten badly.   So is Paula Hawks:

According to our KELO-TV scientific poll, Noem leads her Democratic challenger Paula Hawks 59% to 35%, 6% of the voters are still undecided.

Read that here,

The National Rifle Association sent out an alert tonight to it’s South Dakota Voters, as it views the awful IM22 as a direct attack on organizations such as itself, designed to prevent them from communicating about political issues without disclosing personal and private information of their members and donors

Of course, you can read it for yourself:

Remember the big story a few weeks back when the Secretary of State clearly noted that it was illegal for outside groups to use ballot measures to raise money?

The Vote Yes on V campaign took contributions from two outside groups, Open Primaries and TakeItBack.org, that raised and collected money explicitly to back the ballot measure. While outside groups are free to donate money to ballot committees like Yes on V, state law forbids those organizations from contributing money that was “raised or collected by the organization for the purpose of influencing the ballot question.”

and..

Secretary of State Shantel Krebs said state law requires organizations like Open Primaries and TakeItBack.org to register as ballot question committees if they raise or collect money for a ballot measure.

“If they solicited specifically for a ballot question, then that is against state statute,” she said.

Read that here.

Now, remember the e-mail I posted last night? It had a PS..

It directly and clearly states that people need to send Slick Rick money to “Win these Initiatives.”

I’m not sure how many more direct statements by the “takeitback.org” group have to be for someone to take state law seriously. They are absolutely raising money under the pretense of it going towards the ballot initiatives.  And supposedly, that’s against state law.

The question is, is anyone going to do anything about it?

From the Sioux Falls Business Journal:

Argus Leader Media announced leadership and staffing changes Tuesday, in conjunction with similar moves occurring at many of parent company Gannett’s 109 local sites.

and..

An Argus Leader staff reduction Tuesday also included eight additional employees in the organization.

and…

In an unrelated move, Patrick Lalley is no longer the Argus Leader’s news director. His last day was Oct. 21.

Read it all here.

I caught wind of the firings, but it was more than interesting that they note separately and very specifically that news director Patrick Lalley, who came to his position in March, has been removed as news director… and that removal had absolutely nothing to do with “the announced leadership and staffing changes,” citing it as occurring “in an unrelated move.”

Maybe they should start handing our coconut torches at the Argus, like they do in Survivor?

Bonus – updates on people being fired left and right over there make me think it’s ran like this…

A friend clued me to this being posted on facebook, noting that there will be a big Jackley fundraiser coming up in a couple of weeks:

That’s a big list of people, many of whom I recognize. I think the race for 2016 is already afoot…

 

REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN CONZET
ELECTED TO LEAD NATIONAL WOMEN’S LEGISLATIVE BOARD

State Representative Kristin Conzet has been elected at the President of the Executive Board of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Women’s Legislative Network is the active, vibrant and respected organization dedicated to promoting the participation, empowerment, and leadership of women legislators in the 50 states and the U.S. territories. There are currently 1,809 women serving in state legislatures across the country. Every female legislator is a member of the Network and the organization is governed by a bipartisan, regionally-balanced board of 15 directors.

Representative Conzet was elected at the Women’s Legislative Network annual business meeting durning the NCSL Legislative Summit.

“It is a real privilege for me to lead the Women’s Legislative Network. I look forward to working with the leaders throughout the country and the world as together we face the challenges of ever-changing global economy and society.” Said Conzet.