We Won! South Dakota Voters Approve Recreational and Medical Marijuana Legalization Ballot Measures

South Dakota voters approved Amendment A, a constitutional ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adults 21, with 54% of the vote and also approved Measure 26, a statutory ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for patients with debilitating health conditions, with 70% of the vote.

“South Dakota has made history by becoming the first state to legalize medical marijuana and legalize marijuana for adults on the same day. Furthermore, it is arguably the most conservative state yet to enact marijuana legalization,” said Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project and one of the leaders of the South Dakota campaign.

Amendment A will legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over and protect medical marijuana access in the state. Measure 26 would establish a medical marijuana program for qualifying patients with serious medical conditions. The initiatives will take effect July, 1, 2021.

South Dakota is one of five states that voted on marijuana reform ballot initiatives this November. In Arizona, New Jersey, and Montana, there were ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over. Mississippi voted on two competing medical marijuana initiatives. All five campaigns were successful.

Heading into Election Day, 11 states had legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over, and 34 states had legalized medical marijuana. Now, the numbers are 15 and 36 respectively.