SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakotans turned against recreational use of marijuana after passing it in 2020 – voting down Initiated Measure 27 yesterday.
With 99% of precincts reporting, Initiated Measure 27 is failing with 47-percent of voters voting “yes” and 53-percent voting “no,” as of 5:30 a.m. the day after polls closed.
IM 27 would have legalized marijuana in small amounts for people age 21 and older. Opponents to IM 27 have said legal marijuana will increase marijuana use for kids and not help foster healthy families.
Protecting South Dakota Kids, who led the opposition to the measure, reported raising $427,186 in its pre-election filing and spent $351,740 mostly on advertising.
Meanwhile,
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota voters have approved the expansion of Medicaid health insurance to tens of thousands of low-income residents through a constitutional amendment.
South Dakota is the 39th state to expand eligibility for the government health insurance program under the Affordable Care Act.
The amendment will extend Medicaid to those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — currently about $18,800 for an individual or $38,300 for a family of four.
The Republican-controlled Legislature had long resisted expanding Medicaid eligibility, and GOP Gov. Kristi Noem opposed it.
But a coalition of South Dakota health care groups and progressive organizations backed a well-funded ballot campaign this year.
