PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — In November voters will be deciding if recreational and medicinal marijuana should be legal in South Dakota.
Amendment A would legalize the recreational use of marijuana for individuals 21 years old and older. Individuals would also be allowed to possess or distribute up to one ounce of marijuana.
IM-26 would establish a medical marijuana program in South Dakota for individuals who have a debilitating medical condition as certified by a physician. Patients would be allowed to possess a maximum of three ounces of marijuana.
The opposition is coming in the form of a ballot committee in Pierre.
The committee is opposing the amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana but Dave Owen, President of the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the committee will not take a position on IM-26.
Owen says other states have gone down this road with mixed results he says the committee wants to make sure voters are aware of the consequences the other states have faced and wants to remind people this is inappropriate to do as a constitutional amendment.
Owen says businesses are concerned about the impacts on their potential workforce they already struggle finding individuals who can pass drug tests so making this available is making the business community extremely nervous.
(Jerry Oster WNAX contributed to this report)
