Poll: South Dakota Voters Poised to Reject Adult Cannabis Use Measure

South Dakota voters seem poised to reject the state’s upcoming adult cannabis use initiative, according to a poll from KELOLAND News, Emerson College, and The Hill released on Tuesday. The survey found that 50.5% of respondents plan to vote against the measure, with 39.7% in favor, and 9.8% undecided. 

The poll found that 44.1% of female respondents planned to back the reforms, with 54% opposed. About 36% of men polled said they planned to vote yes, with 46.7% opposed. Adult cannabis use was backed by 59% of voters aged 18 to 49 but support falls among those aged 50-64 with 56.7% saying they plan to vote no on the measure along with 63.8% of respondents 65 and older.  

Jim Kinyon, committee chair for Protecting South Dakota Kids, which opposes the reforms, told KELOLAND that he is “Very, very hopeful, that as more messages get out and more people find out about what marijuana will do, the dangerous drug that it is, that more folks will turn out because that is way too narrow of a margin.” 

Matthew Schweich, campaign manager for Yes on 27, which backs the measure, said despite the polling with less than two weeks prior to the midterm election, he believes the campaign is “still in a position to win.” 

“I believe that there’s a large number of voters who don’t typically vote in midterm elections, who are going to be motivated to show up and vote in favor of Measure 27,” he told KELOLAND. 

South Dakota voters had passed adult cannabis use reforms in 2020 but they were ultimately struck down by the state Supreme Court which ruled that the measure violated the state’s one-issue rule for initiatives.