Gov. Noem Begrudgingly Includes Marijuana Implementation Plan in Her Annual State Budget

In her recent budget address to the South Dakota State Legislature, Governor Kristi Noem expressed her displeasure about South Dakotans’ “disappointing” approval of Amendment A and Measure 26.

While failing to mention that the South Dakota Legislative Research Council previously estimated that the state will generate approximately $250 million over the next ten years from marijuana sales allowed under Amendment A, the governor made her frustration with voters clear, citing the initial regulatory costs needed to implement the new laws.

“There are significant safety and regulatory costs associated with both the medical marijuana measure and the recreational one,” she stated. Her office estimates the state will need roughly $4 million over the next three years to ramp up both programs.

In her remarks, Gov. Noem also referenced a lawsuit filed by Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom and Superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol Colonel Rick Miller to overturn voters’ approval of Amendment A, an effort partly funded by by South Dakota taxpayers and supported by the governor. With Amendment A’s fate hanging in the balance, she said, “we’re going to have to present two courses of action” for the state budget.

Visit this page to learn more about the lawsuit against Amendment A and support SDBML’s legal defense fund.