PIERRE, SD — The South Dakota Legislative Marijuana Summer Study Committee reached the finish line in late fall this week, with the Executive Board voting to accept its report.
The committee is chaired by Senator. Brian BreitlingR-Miller, R-Miller, has drafted nearly two dozen pieces of legislation that would modify the state’s medical marijuana program and likely appear at the next hearing in Pierre. The Summer Study Committee also adopted a bill on adult use, which Breitling said would be presented as fail-safe in the event the state Supreme Court upholds an injunction from a lower court against the voter-approved Amendment A.
“Marijuana remains illegal nationwide, however, 35 states have already passed some form of legalization,” Breitling told the Executive Council on Wednesday, November 17.
The 15 members of the electronic whiteboardThe House’s vote to accept the report did not constitute endorsement of any of the draft legislation, as noted by the Speaker and Chairman of the Board of Directors, josh spencer.
“We’re just adopting a report,” said Josh, R-Glenham.
The summer study committee split into two separate committees, on adult and medicinal cannabis use, and ultimately voted on bills that would limit home growth to 3 plants and allow schools to pass policies that would prevent children from accessing smokeable cannabis during campus school hours, from Among many other provisions.
The commissions took testimonies from legal and health experts, as well as cannabis industry advocates and local leaders.
“I know philosophically[Breitling]is kind of my place on the subject,” Senate Pro Tempore said. Lee SchwenbeckR-Watertown thanks the Summer Study Chair for its work. “(It’s) kind of weird to be in a position to help propose legislation that would allow something that you might not be keen on.”
More than 70% of South Dakota residents approved a medical cannabis program at the ballot box in 2020. In a separate vote to legalize adult use for entertainment, 54% of state voters approved the constitutional amendment.
The South Dakota legislature begins on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 legislative session.
