Voters in South Dakota have apparently decided to reject adult-use cannabis, according to poll tracking data. Initiated Measure 29 would have permitted adults over 21 to possess up to two ounces of flower, 16 grams of weed extracts, and 1,600 mg of THC edibles. Home cultivation of six plants per person and 12 plants per household would have also been allowed.
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The initiative saw approximately 56.4 percent of voters tick “no” on their ballots. This is in line with recent polling; roughly 45 percent of South Dakotans said they favored Measure 29 in the days leading up to the election, below the majority needed to pass. The state Republican party had adopted an anti-reform stance, but campaigning on either side of the issue remained mostly grassroots.
John Mueller, co-founder and CEO of the dispensary chain Greenlight, told GreenState that he was disappointed in the results but would continue to support sensible regulation. His business operates three medical cannabis locations in South Dakota and was hoping to transition to adult-use.
“While we respect the voters’ decision, this was a missed opportunity,” Mueller said. “South Dakota will continue to miss out on the economic and public safety benefits that come with a regulated adult-use cannabis market. The illicit market will persist, depriving the state of tax revenue and leaving consumers without tested, regulated products.”
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This is the third time voters in South Dakota have considered adult-use cannabis. A ballot initiative passed in 2020 but was eventually struck down by the State Supreme Court. A similar measure failed in the 2022 midterm election.
South Dakota does have a thriving industrial hemp market and is the top domestic producer of the plant. Despite the economic boom local farmers have enjoyed, it wasn’t enough to convince voters to enact further reform. Grassroots organizers will now return to the drawing board, hopeful that public opinion will shift come midterms.
