Governor Noem has hostrocially opposed all efforts to leglaize marijuana in South dakota. She claims that it is a gateway drug and will lead peopele to get into "stronger drugs" She has state that when it comes to the legalization of marijuana, she will govern as the people of South Dakota vote. She claims that since the majority of South Dakotians vote in oppositon of leglaizing marijuna, she will not legalize it yet.
Holds office Governor
Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said in a debate that she would implement legalization of marijuana this time if voters approve it on the ballot again. Democratic opponent Jamie Smith, currently the House minority leader, criticized the incumbent for working to overturn a previous cannabis vote. (September 2022)
Governor Noem vetoed a house bill which would increase the amount of thc allowed in industrial hemp to 5%, classifying mairjuana as hemp. she said “Only two states allow a product in process to contain up to 5% TCH: Colorado and New York, both of which have legalized recreational marijuana,South Dakota voters spoke clearly this past November: they do not want recreational marijuana. If I allowed this bill to become law, it would jeopardize the clearly expressed will of the people. Increasing the THC level to 5% would hinder our successful hemp program and undermine enforcement of our drug laws.” (3/23/23)
"It also essentially codifies a convicted person's ability to be dishonest about their previous arrest and conviction by not requiring disclosure of the prior drug conviction," Noem wrote. 3/25/22
Governor Noem vetoed legislation that sought to license and regulate commercial hemp production in the state, opining, “There is no question in my mind that normalizing hemp, like legalizing medical marijuana, is part of a larger strategy to undermine enforcement of the drug laws and make legalized marijuana inevitable.” (Link)
“Whether the gateway drug is marijuana or a legal prescription painkiller, the slope toward addiction can often be a slippery one. As governor, I will oppose all attempts to legalize marijuana.” (4/24/18) (Link)
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Governor Noem has historically opposed all efforts to liberalize marijuana laws in South Dakota, and she recently affirmed her opposition to a pair of 2020 ballot initiatives that seek to legalize and regulate medical cannabis and adult-use marijuana. (Link)
Marijuana is “the gateway drug to getting people more addicted, getting into stronger drugs, then they end up committing crimes, and it just opens the door to bad habits and behaviors that aren’t going to be beneficial.” (Link)
“Legalizing industrial hemp weakens drug laws. It hurts law enforcement. It’s a step backward.” (Link)