Governor Kristi Noem?wants another year to?develop?a medical marijuana program.?
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South Dakota voters overwhelmingly?approved?a ballot measure last year.?The law would go into effect?July first.? Noem’s?office says that’s not enough time.?
Governor?Noem?says the state?needs to?create a new medical marijuana program?safely and correctly. She says an additional year?gives?people?enough time to?make that happen??
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House lawmakers?introduced legislation to push?back the implementation date and set up a legislative task force to study the program approved by voters.?Meantime there is a court challenge against the other marijuana?ballot measure??- Amendment A – that?legalized?recreational cannabis.??
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Republican Representative Kent Peterson is the majority leader in the House. He says it’s?their?intention to honor the will of the voters.?
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“As we’re hearing from the people within the agencies in charge of implementing this… it takes time,” Peterson says. “As we’ve seen in other states, it’s taken 18 months up to four years to implement something like this. IT’s no different in South Dakota. With the pending litigation out there on Constitutional Amendment A as well, that’s?also?another factor?in that.?The main reason is it takes time. They need time. We need a safe and workable solution for the people of South Dakota.”?
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The state is?working with a?consulting?firm that?it says?recommends pushing?back?implementation??
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The?state has?NOT consulted with the?group that?advocated?for medical marijuana?about?delaying the program.?
Melissa?Mentele?is the president of New Approach South Dakota.?She says asking medical marijuana patients to wait goes against the will of the voters.??
“We have so many people that have waited so?so?long, and we have so many children that need access now,”?Mentele?says. “We’ve taken this bill to every corner of South Dakota. People went to the polls knowing what they were voting for and they were voting for a July 1st?access date. Delaying it is devastating.”?
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Mentele?says if?lawmakers vote to?delay?the state’s medical marijuana program?she hopes?to hear?from?them?and?participate?in the?task force?study. She says?that could assure the perspectives of?potential?cannabis patients are fairly represented.??
