Governor of South Dakota Noem says she'll implement a new weed law if it is passed by voters

After successfully challenging a voter-approved recreational marijuana amendment, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said that she will not stand in the way of the outcome the second time around. Next week, the state’s voters will decide on Initiated measure 27, which would legalize personal marijuana possession for adults 21 years and older. Noem, a Republican up for re-election, is still opposed to marijuana legalization. At a Rapid City campaign town hall on Thursday, Noem stated that she would support the will of the voters if Measure 27 is passed. “If it passes it’s going be implemented. According to the Rapid City Journal, Noem stated that these are just facts. In 2020, 54% of South Dakota voters approved an amendment that would have legalized recreational cannabis in the state. Noem led a legal challenge that eventually led to the amendment being struck down by the state Supreme Court. Noem, who was defending her actions at the campaign stop last Wednesday, said that the law would have violated the state constitution. “I raised my hand and stated that I would uphold both the state Constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution.” According to the Rapid City Journal, Noem stated that the basis of all decisions is that. A poll by Emerson College last week showed that 50% of respondents intend to vote against Measure 27, while 40% intend to vote for it. Jamie Smith, a Democrat, is challenging Noem. Smith has repeatedly criticized the governor for overturning Amendment 2020. Emerson College poll showed Noem leading Smith going into Election Day. The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled in November that Amendment A, the 2020 proposal, violated the constitution’s single subject requirement. The amendment sought to legalize both recreational and medical marijuana. Chief Justice Steven Jensen, in the majority opinion, stated that “This constitutional directive could never be expressed more clearly-each subject has to be voted upon separately–and simply cutting certain provisions may not reflect or reflect the actual will the voters.” “We cannot accept the suggestion of Proponents that Amendment A should be repealed. We believe that retaining the regulations and legalization of recreational marijuana is a better solution. Amendment A is null in its entirety,” Noem said at the time. We do things right. And how we do them matters as much as what they are doing. We are still subject to the rule of law. This decision does NOT affect the implementation of the medical marijuana program that voters approved in 2020 by my Administration. The program was launched earlier in the month and the first cards have been sent to South Dakotans who are eligible.