SDBML Press Conference Highlights Law Enforcement Support for Amendment A and Measure 26
On Friday, October 30, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws and New Approach South Dakota, a patient advocacy organization, held a virtual press conference with local law enforcement professionals who support Amendment A and Measure 26
Campaign leaders Drey Samuelson and Melissa Mentele were joined by:
Bill Stocker, retired Sioux Falls police officer
Brendan Johnson, 40th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Randy Seiler, 41st United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
During the “South Dakota Law and Order for Legalization” press conference, Stocker, Johnson, and Sailer presented the evidence and made their closing arguments against South Dakota’s failed marijuana laws
Read about the press conference:
Rapid City Journal: Former law enforcement officials voice support for marijuana ballot measures
Brendan Johnson, another former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota, assisted in collecting signatures to put Constitutional Amendment A on the ballot. Johnson said keeping marijuana illegal “only breeds a system of disorder and lawlessness.” Read more…
Capital Journal: Some law enforcement officers support legal weed
“I’ve been hearing from a lot of police officers who are in support of this,” [Stocker] said. “Opponents make it seem like all police officers are against this, but that is definitely not the case.” Read more…
KELOLAND: South Dakota voters will decide whether or not to legalize marijuana in the state
“An arrest record or criminal history makes it more difficult to get a job, more difficult to enlist in the military, rent an apartment, and for a small, minor mistake, individuals have to pay the price throughout the course of their lifetime,” supporter, 41st United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, Randy Seiler said. Read more…
Dakota News Now: Former officer showing support for marijuana in South Dakota
“About once a month or so we hear about someone getting caught with enough fentanyl to kill tens of thousands of people. That’s the kind of thing that worries me not marijuana,” said Stocker.
“Most cops, they don’t want to go after 25-year-olds who have a couple of grams of marijuana. They want to get the real criminals off the street.”
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