When invited last month to tour the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s pot-growing facility, District 8 Rep. Mathew Wollmann said he might have a schedule conflict but felt it was important for outsiders to study the project:
“I think it’s a good move on their part to reach out to us,” Wollmann said. “And it’s important for us to see it firsthand, to be able to see it through their eyes and in their shoes” [Dana Ferguson, “Invitation to Marijuana Facilities Gets Mixed Reactions,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2015.09.15].
District 8 Senator Scott Parsley sounded a similar note on the importance of understanding the issue:
State Sen. Scott Parsley, D-Madison, who also represents the tribe as part of the 8th district, said Tuesday that he plans to attend the event in his district to better understand what the tribe is doing. He said the growth and sales that occur on the reservation could spill out into the rest of the district.
“I want to know what’s going on in my district and there might be issues that come out of this that affect people outside the tribe,” Parsley said [Ferguson, 2015.09.15].
Ignoring the GOP spin blog’s effort to damn attendance at the event with a loaded question, Republican Wollmann and Democrat Parsley followed through on their fact-finding motivation yesterday as they toured the Flandreau grow-op with three other legislators and the press. (District 8’s other legislator, Rep. Leslie Heinemann, who lives five miles from tribal headquarters in Flandreau, did not attend.)
A hot topic on this blog has been whether pro-pot politics would be good for Democratic candidates. But out of legislative contingent, it was Republican Rep. Elizabeth May from Kyle who seemed inclined to test that thesis explicitly:
“I’m all about the marijuana, but the fact of it is that we’re still the state of South Dakota. So we have one country inside another country,” May said. “I’m concerned about what that’s going to do for revenues with our counties because our counties are in a terrible financial situation” [Dana Ferguson, “Lawmaker Support Slim at Tour of Flandreau Facility,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2015.10.16].
Call me old-fashioned, but I will advise any candidate who asks never to utter the words, “I am all about the marijuana” in earshot of anyone.
Expect the Legislature to rib Rep. May mercilessly for the opening of her comment and to focus on the fiscal and jurisdictional issues she raises.
She may have to take some ribbing from the notoriously stupid SoDak Republican caucus, but she will live to triumph as the notoriously tardy Republican caucus scrambles to endorse cannabis and get their notoriously greedy friends in under the cash waterfall that will be the town of Flandreau.
Even a blind squirrel sometimes finds an acorn. Elizabeth May is lasik visioned while her republican party continues to wear bi-focal’s on all issues. May has found the truth about what markets and what does not. Right now, it sure as hell is not beef, so there has to be a cash crop that is strong and dependable. May will take ribbing but her party is gonna take it on in the ribs for being as silly as Lynn.
Bob, will you be leading a caravan out to Kyle to support May with GOTV? And has May picked up any of your petitions and asked for signatures from her neighbors?
Jerry, now don’t get me thinking about the possibilities of converting NBP to a giant year-round grow-up after New Angus/DemKota Ranch Beef founders on the rocks of low beef prices. (You’re really connecting dots today, aren’t you? :-) )
I hate to be the one to say this BUT there is so much that was said in that meeting that the media left out it leaves people with an impression of the day that is not as positive as it really was. There were lots of great questions asked by the legislators that attended and they were all answered openly & honestly. Those who did not attend did a disservice to all of us in SD who voted them into office to represent us. In my opinion they should have all been there. If people want to take a hard negative stance on what is happening down there I feel they should at least have attended the meeting to get the fact and see it with their own eyes.
The meeting went very well and everyone was engaged, positive, open to listen and lots of questions were answered. I hope that when the FSST sends the 2nd invite to another meeting those who did not attend will show up.
Cory to answer your question No she did not take any petitions BUT I did leave with her number and plans to visit her town in the near future. Liz will be on the right side of history in SD, in 10 years when we are not last in teacher pay & many very sick adults and children are being treated with a safer option in their own state…Liz will be able to say she supported making a difference to hundreds of educators and in our sickest residents lives. I hope that others will follow.
think of cannabis as the former bakken boom: strike now before supply exceeds demand.
Recent polls suggest that legalization measures in Florida and Ohio have a decent chance of passage in November, and polling on medical marijuana in those states is upwards of 90% in favor.
Marijuana prohibitionists are clearly and undeniably on the wrong side of history.
Sorry ladies n gentlemen… but the evil demon weed will not share it’s profits with the repubs…..UNLESS we allow the sale in every freaking payday loan store in SD!
Mafia got stopped in New York, stopped in Las Vegas…so the loan sharks all moved to SD n are named Mugsy, Bugsy n Payday….
Get some petitions out there..that will confuse the matter greatly.I won’t have a clue what the heck I’m signing. N neither will a good portion of the petition carriers…lol.
As our friend Pat Duffy would tell the state judges that had to deal with the cannabis carriers crossing on I-90. (Busted by Gung ho troopers while the lead footed SDakotans fly by at 95 mph)….THE POT WARS ARE OVER! We miss you Pat.
The evil demon weed only has profits in the depraved minds of some of my friends. Others, like my good friend Lar mostly are insane and that is part of the hurdle that the weed must pass. Some of the smokers are saner than most, and most are insaner than most. It really bandywaggs the group that has some common sense.
Lar’s biggest issue is not who is using a weed whacker on his ditches right now, it is who is going to use a weed whacker on his ditches tomorrow. Lar has thought that far ahead, indeed.
Pretty easy to see Grudz has never partaken of the devil weed. THC clears the cobwebs from your mind and allows lucid thought processes. THC could make wingnuts appear to be tractable for awhile.
Melissa, has anyone gotten those other more positive comments and questions on the record? Any Facebook discussion? Any amateur recordings?
Bob, I am able to travel again so pick me up on your way to Kyle.
Roadtrip to da Rez!
When President Sanders takes office I can’t wait to take all the college classes I want for free and maybe never graduate. It’s like a buffet of classes at the U. If he can make sure I can get my plant under my campus or parents med plan that would be sick!
Can’t get in way of progress dudes!
There is plenty of audio from the meeting I am not sure who you would contact for it. The discussions ranged from cost sharing on law enforcement to the surrounding counties, giving back to the community, substance abuse intervention, safety of the consumers, plans going forward and other issues. There was a great dialog and once everyone got comfortable the questions were very good. I think next time Cory you should just attend.
Its amazing though…everyone made it out of the growing facility alive and well…the devils lettuce didn’t kill anyone isn’t that just amazing!! All those people within touching distance of all that marijuana and nobody got high, nobody was harmed and I think it helped many understand that unless you are actively consuming cannabis it is not going effect you in any way. I think it really was an eye opener.
PS You didn’t hear it from me but there are several people I caught mean mugging for a selfie upstairs with the plants. Kinda interested to see who is going to be sharing them.
Anyone noe how big the lockers will be there to stow our stuff? Can’t wait!
Will we be able to get our Cannabis free from our medical plans?
I will be leading a caravan to pee on Grudznick’s grave.
Newland: i miss your posts at Decorum Forum.
and you can block grud.
Representative May has her finger on the pulse of the world with her declaration. Here is now what is going on at the UN. http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/finally-a-change-in-course-on-drug-policy
The prisons will now be used to actually put criminals in, war on drugs is coming to a close, we citizens lost that war. Time to move on and regulate drug use.
Great—maybe Rep. May can be the new true conservative challenger to John Thune or Kristi Noem?