New legislation from South Dakota state Rep. Travis Ismay (R) is seeking to overturn the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis program, Dakota News Now reports.
It’s not the first time that Ismay, who only recently came into office, has worked to repeal the voter-backed program. As a citizen activist, Ismay collected signatures for a ballot initiative that sought to repeal the law, which itself was established by a voter initiative in 2020.
Melisa Mentele, the executive director for New Approach South Dakota, said in the report that she didn’t understand Ismay’s effort to “completely wipe out” a ballot initiative that had been supported by nearly 300,000 voters.
“His sponsor’s ask is pretty outrageous to wipe out the entire program. It would revert patients back to being convicts. It would shut down a $1,000,000 industry in our state. It would shut down a section of the Department of Health, but it would really have a horrible impact on patients.” — Mentele, via Dakota News Now
Ismay does not currently have any co-sponsors lined up for the bill although he did approach fellow lawmakers to seek their support, the South Dakota War College reports.
South Dakota voters considered and ultimately rejected the legalization of adult-use cannabis last November.
Get daily cannabis business news updates. Subscribe
End