UNDATED – It appears South Dakota voters have approved two ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.
With 622 of 693 precincts reporting Wednesday morning, the measure to legalize marijuana for recreational use has 200,554 yes votes and 174,919 no votes.
For the Initiated Measure, an overwhelming 260,769 votes cast were in favor.
The recreational measure, which is a constitutional amendment, will make it so people 21 and older will be able to possess and distribute up to one ounce of marijuana, and they will also be allowed to cultivate up to three cannabis plants. Upon formal passage, legalization will become the law on July 1, 2021.
The Department of Revenue will be charged with developing licensing regulations by April 1, 2022.
The medical cannabis initiative will make a statutory change to allow patients suffering from debilitating conditions to possess and purchase up to three ounces of marijuana from a licensed dispensary.
The state Department of Health will have until October 29, 2021 to enact regulations for the program and then must issue patient registration cards by November 18.
