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Conflicting poll results highlight recreational marijuana's uncertain future

Marijuana plants grow in a marijuana cultivation facility on July 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ethan Miller
/
Getty Images
Marijuana plants grow in a marijuana cultivation facility on July 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The future of recreational marijuana in South Dakota is hazy after several recent polls on the issue show conflicting results.

Initiated Measure 27 is on the November ballot. It allows people 21 and over to use marijuana recreationally in South Dakota.

Anew survey from The SDSU Pollsuggests support for the measure slightly trails opposition – 45% supporting it, compared to 47% against it.

The results were released just days after a marijuana advocacy group released its own internal polling showing 54% support IM 27.

Meantime, a July poll commissioned by South Dakota News Watch found 54% opposed recreational marijuana.

David Wiltse is the director of the SDSU poll. He considers the race a “virtual tie” – and that it could come down to independents.

“Democrats were pretty solidly behind it, roughly 71 to 20. Republicans solidly against it, 68 to 24," Wiltse said. "Independents were basically at 51 supporting, 48 opposing. So they could be the key to this thing passing.”

The election is Nov. 8.

Josh Chilson is the news director at South Dakota Public Broadcasting. A Florence, S.D. native, Josh graduated with a journalism degree from South Dakota State University. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and videographer, and most recently as managing editor for Dakota News Now. Josh is based out of SDPB's Sioux Falls studio.