KELO-TV turns to lengthy woeful comments from Rapid City marijuana dealer Kittrick Jeffries to lament the failure of Initiated Measure 27 and the various ways in which South Dakota may fall behind.
But not to worry—as usual, South Dakotans who can’t get what they want locally (tax-free groceries, inclusive politics…) will be able to hop the border to the Free People’s Republic of Minnesota, where newly reëlected Democratic-Farmer-Labor Governor Tim Walz says one of the first things he and the diverse Democrats who now control the Legislature will work on is legalizing marijuana:
Walz in an appearance on WCCO radio Friday morning reiterated that it could happen next year. Former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who endorsed Walz’s campaign in the final days, said on a podcast Thursday that the incumbent DFL governor said cannabis for adults would be one of the first bills signed next session, a conversation Walz confirmed took place.
He credited Ventura for starting the conversation in Minnesota sooner than it was more common in states nationwide. After Tuesday’s election, where the issue was before voters in some states, 21 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
“It just makes sense. Prohibition didn’t work. We get better regulation.” Walz said. “I just mentioned that I think it would be important to recognize him, asked him if he would be there when we get this done” [Caroline Cummings, “Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats Signal Recreational Marijuana Could Be Legalized Next Session,” CBS Minnesota, 2022.11.11].
But marijuana will be competing with a lot of other priorities for that first signing ceremony in Governor Walz’s office. Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, says codifying the right to abortion to reinforce Minnesota’s Doe v. Gomez ruling from last summer “will be one of the first, if not the first bill passed.” Speaker Hortmann also promises action on “climate, gun violence prevention, and protecting democracy.”
Liberalization of marijuana laws is the least of the ways in which Minnesota’s Democratic Governor and Legislature will be leaving South Dakota behind in the coming couple years. Also leaving South Dakota behind: young voters, at least for a weekend to Worthington for some soothing weed, if not for a permanent relocation to live under rational policymakers addressing the real problems of 21st-century democracy.
Until a test has been developed that can test for an impairment at a point in time like alcohol, drugs that cause impairment have no place in society. Using the excuse of lost revenue or other states have done it doesn’t pass the test for me. When I have seen little Johnny grab the one hitter for his morning break, only to some back and work on a job construction site or jump in a vehicle high as a kite with no true way to test his impairment is irresponsible at best. When those tests have been developed….smoke or eat away.
Several tribal nations trapped in Minnesota have cannabis programs in place so to exhibit true blue state progressivism the Land of 10,000 Lakes should enshrine their economic development initiative in law, too,
Dear Gov. Noem, Rick Miller, Kevin Thoms, Mike Milstead, Fred Deutsch, Tom Sutton, Gary Cammack and especially
Jim Kinyon,
Luverne, MN is 37 min. from Sioux Falls.
You dip sh*ts have only put more of a burden on law enforcement (Ha!) at a time when there are real, actual issues
that need those resources.
So while Meth , Fentanyl, Alcohol and
opioids wreak havoc on our state, you
fine upstanding citizen’s are actually
NOT protecting South Dakota Kids.
As a matter of fact( something Kinyon knows nothing about) a case could be
made that they all have blood on their
hands.
You Dopes have stopped nothing.
These people should go after video lottery as hard as they did for pot. It ruins more lives than pot does. but I suppose their cronies own the action.
The war on drugs is failed, wasteful use of resources.
Portugal decriminalized possession and use of small quantities of drugs. Drug use decreased. Drug-related crime decreased. Over decades.
The first territorial judge in Deadwood refused to incarcerate opium addicts unless they were also charged with a harsh other crime (robbery, burglary, assault, etc.)
There is no justifiable rationale to not decriminalize small quantities of cannabis and most drugs.
Mark S — we have no magic test to determine whether a person / driver is high as a kite on aspirin, vitamins, minerals, or thousands of other compounds – whether prescription or over-the-counter. Yet, we have many cases of persons / drivers convicted of operating while under the influence through the use of other physical indicators and evidence. Consider that, like my late mother, we have too many “licensed” drivers operating under the influence of advanced age and cognitive impairment. We have no reliable “magic test” to clear our roads of these well-intended nuisances and threats.
Expect South Dakota to decriminalize sex work before all adults are able to grow their own cannabis legally.
Enforcement of SD laws has always been dependent on the power of the name involved.
If there is no clear victim or somebody pointing across the room at you and openly declaring you wronged them in some way or made them unwhole, the courts are being misused and is putting on a show of their own self-importance.
No victim means no crime. Privacy is freedom. If the law system needs something to do with itself, how about check up on all the registered sex offenders each day. Put eyes on them to make sure they are not perpetrating against another actual victim. Oh, I forgot, women and kids don’t matter unless they have money.
Colorado has joined Oregon and become the second state to legalize psychedelic substances.
– Colorado has again put personal choices first. Personal choices lead to diversity and diversity leads to economic progress.
– Utah is the top USA state for economy. It’s followed by Colorado, Idaho, Washington and Massachusetts to round out the top five. – U.S. News and World Report 2022
Here’s what Prop. 122 means:
– Adults 21 and up can possess, use, grow and share mushrooms with psilocybin and psilocin — the hallucinogens found in psychedelic ‘shrooms.
– By late 2024, licensed “healing centers” can open to provide magic mushrooms to clients. (Doctors’ approval won’t be needed.)
– Three other plant-based psychedelics — mescaline (excluding peyote cactus), ibogaine and dimethyltryptamine — are also decriminalized for people 21+.
– By mid-2026, a state advisory board will recommend whether healing centers can add mescaline, ibogaine and DMT to their services, in addition to magic mushrooms.
– Criminal records of people with past convictions involving the legalized substances will be sealed.
Here’s what Prop. 122 forbids:
– Retail or commercial sales of psychedelics outside of licensed facilities.
– Colorado counties and municipalities banning healing centers.
What’s next: Gov. Jared Polis must appoint 15 members to an advisory board by Jan. 31. The board will be required to deliver its first recommendations detailing operational requirements for healing centers by Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, companies are already exploring ways to capitalize on Colorado’s newest industry. For research, some business owners are booking trips to countries, like Jamaica, where psychedelic “wellness” retreats are popular,