A house?Republican is introducing a bill that codifies recreational marijuana retail parameters.?
The intent of the bill is to put in place some laws for the sale, possession and consumption of adult-use retail marijuana.?
If Rapid City Republican Mike Derby was asked three months ago whether he would take the lead on marijuana he would have said…?
“No way,?didn’t even dream about that,” Derby says. “But,?as a businessperson that’s looking at this from a business perspective—I’m just looking at the retail side of it—this is a topic I got very interested in. Started doing my homework.”?
Derby is a member of a bi-partisan group of legislators, lobbyists and interested people called the ‘Cannabis Caucus,’ which is trying to figure out the framework for legal marijuana sales.??
The bill hinges on whether South Dakota courts uphold Amendment A, which?legalized recreational marijuana for adult use. Derby’s bill would codify some of the intent behind the voter approved initiative.?
Derby says the bill clarified the legislature doesn’t endorse adult use marijuana, but that lawmakers are following the will of the people.?
“And that’s where we’re coming from. If it’s going to happen how?do?we do it? How do we do it in a safe, controlled environment?” Derby says. “I like the?idea of using people and retailers that already have experience selling adult age appropriate products. They already have the security in place, they already have the training, we already know the distribution channels. Work within that framework to give us the guardrails we need for this new industry.”?
If Amendment A is overturned, the legislation would get repealed effective immediately.?