A Look Back at the Exciting Finish of Our Signature Drive
The last three weeks of the signature drive were big in terms of collecting the signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. Between our press conference on April 13th to the turn in day on May 3rd, over 5,000 signatures from registered South Dakota voters were collected. We have compiled a recap of the past few weeks:
APRIL 13TH – PRESS CONFERENCE:
On April 13th, SDBML announced in a press conference that the campaign was concerned it would not have enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The campaign’s internal count of signatures from registered South Dakota voters at that time was 13,500. In the press conference, the campaign hoped to spark initiative in South Dakotans. Along with hoping to get more South Dakotans to sign the petition, SDBML also announced a petition hotline number and upcoming drive-thru events.
Argus Leader: “Cannabis group scrambling to get legalization back on South Dakota ballot as deadline looms”
Keloland: “Recreational marijuana petition drive ramps up efforts”
Marijuana Moment: “South Dakota Marijuana Activists Issue ‘Yellow Alert’ For Signature Drive To Put Legalization On Ballot As Deadline Nears”
APRIL 16TH & 17TH – RAPID CITY DRIVE-THRU:
On April 16th & 17th, SDBML hosted its first drive-thru event in Rapid City. The drive-thru proved to be a popular destination for many west-river South Dakotans. Nearly 900 people signed the petition over the course of that Saturday and Sunday and put us in a better position than before. Although the drive-thru was a great success, we weren't out of the woods yet.
Rapid City Journal: “Marijuana backers to hold weekend petition drive in Rapid City”
KOTA/KEVN: “SD for Better Marijuana Laws to collect signatures in Rapid City”
KOTA/KEVN: “Organization fights to get recreational marijuana back on the ballot”
Rapid City Journal: “South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws are hosting a drive-thru signature petition drive this weekend”
Rapid City Journal: “South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws hold drive-thru petition drive”
Rapid City Journal: “Nearly 900 signatures collected in Rapid City for marijuana ballot measure”
APRIL 19TH– SNOOP DOGG CONCERT:
On April 19th, Snoop Dogg performed at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. This was a great opportunity for the campaign to collect signatures. We estimated that we collected several hundred signatures outside before the concert started.
Keloland: “Snoop Dogg concert ignites support of legal cannabis”
APRIL 29TH – FINAL PUSH:
On April 29th, with only 5 days until the deadline, SDBML announced to the public that it was still shy of the amount of signatures needed in order to qualify for the ballot. Four final drive-thru events were announced (Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Brookings) in hopes of one last big weekend. Bobbi Walton of Sioux Falls was interviewed by Keloland and shared her frustrations with having to go through the petition process again, stating, “I think it’s terrible that we have to go through this in the first place. Why are we having to go through more signatures and petitions? It should have been taken care of.” The drive-thrus in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Brookings were a great success and helped tremendously to get us over the finish line.
Keloland: “Cannabis crunch time”
Dakota News Now: “Cannabis Legalization Campaign holding four drive-thru petition signing events this weekend”
MAY 3RD – TURN IN:
On May 3rd, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws drove to Pierre to submit its petitions for the 2022 cannabis legalization initiative measure to the South Dakota Secretary of State. The campaign’s internal review of the petitions found that over 19,250 registered South Dakota voters signed the petitions. The Secretary of State’s office will now conduct an official assessment of the petitions and determine whether or not cannabis legalization will be on the ballot. With the help of volunteers, signing locations, and paid circulators, we were able to submit well over the 16,961 valid signatures needed and feel confident that we will qualify.
WATCH:
Keloland: “S.D. marijuana, Medicaid measures filed for fall ballot”
Dakota News Now: “Advocates for legalizing marijuana in South Dakota submitted thousands of petition signatures”
READ:
Dakota Free Press: “Secretary Barnett Receives Initiative Petitions to Expand Medicaid and Legalize Marijuana”
Argus Leader: “South Dakota marijuana group turns in thousands of signatures to force another vote on legal cannabis”
AP News: “SD pot legalization campaign submits signatures for ballot”
Marijuana Moment: “South Dakota Activists Turn In Signatures To Put Marijuana Legalization On The Ballot”