Indopedia All Things Marijuana
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A writing error could cost a ballot measure campaign its chance to legalize recreational marijuana in South Dakota next year.
Cannabis advocacy group New Approach South Dakota has been collecting signatures for months in support of a proposed ballot measure meant to legalize small amounts of marijuana, the Argus Leader reported.
But the state’s interpretation of the wording means it would only legalize marijuana paraphernalia, not the drug itself. Nonpartisan analysts with the Legislative Research Council said that one sentence in the 11-page proposal undermines the legalization effort.
The section legalizing marijuana paraphernalia addresses the law of “the state or the subdivision” (cities or counties), but the section legalizing marijuana itself only addresses the law of the subdivision and doesn’t include “the state or.”
This means the measure wouldn’t affect the state’s law banning recreational marijuana, should the measure make it to the ballot next…
