South Dakota
South Dakota Officials Clear Marijuana Legalization Campaign To Launch Paid Signature Drive For 2024 Ballot Initiative
South Dakota officials have cleared the way for paid circulators to start collecting signatures for a 2024 marijuana legalization ballot initiative as the activist-led campaign continues to evaluate next steps.
Late last month, the secretary of state’s office approved a circulator handout submitted by South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML), a requirement that will allow the campaign to deploy paid canvassers to gather signatures along with its existing grassroots network of volunteers who have already been distributing petitions.
The newly approved campaign material simply features the state attorney general’s title and explanation of the ballot measure, which was finalized in August.
Matthew Schweich, director of SDBML, told Marijuana Moment on Thursday that the campaign is “starting to pay a small team of circulators to help gather signatures, but we haven’t yet launched the full-scale paid signature drive.”
The effort is “moving in the right direction,” he said, adding that organizers have “a large number of volunteers working across the state,” as well as volunteers based at existing medical marijuana dispensaries and other businesses that are supporting the effort.
Haven’t signed the petition to place adult-use cannabis legalization on the November 2024 ballot? What are you waiting for? Find a petition near you at https://t.co/3czxh3g6Zt pic.twitter.com/7B3CdaAqF9
— South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (@southdakotamj) December 21, 2023
“So there’s a strong volunteer operation that’s been gaining steam, and we’re working on raising money—and we’ve made some progress there,” he said. “We don’t want to wait forever to start getting the paid circulating going, so we’re getting started small-scale with the hope that we can ramp it up, especially as the weather improves.”
Ensuring that the campaign has sufficient resources to succeed has been top-of-mind, as Schweich says losing again at the ballot following South Dakota voters’ rejection of a legalization measure in 2022 is “not an option.”
“We’re still not at a point where we can say we have the funds to get on the ballot or run a strong campaign, but we’re continuing to make progress on the fundraising front,” he said. “I remain cautiously optimistic that this campaign can be viable.”
This is the campaign’s third attempt at the ballot. Voters did approve a legalization initiative in 2020, but it later was invalidated by the state Supreme Court over single-subject concerns.
Even if activists do get the funding and secure ballot placement this year, they will still need to win over voters who rejected legalization in the last election.
Ahead of that election, a poll found that 51 percent of South Dakotans planned to vote against the legalization measure, while 40 percent said they’d be supporting it and 10 percent remained undecided. That was the third poll in a row showing the legalization measure behind.
Meanwhile, a separate proposed 2024 legalization ballot measure, sponsored by Rapid City resident Emmett Reistroffer, recently received its final ballot explanation from the state attorney general. That initiative would legalize adult-use possession and cultivation of cannabis, while allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to serve adult consumers. That said, the chief backer of the proposal says he has no plans to collect signatures or campaign for the change.
Separately, opponents of legalization have filed two other proposed ballot measures to tighten drug laws in the state. One would repeal the state’s medical marijuana law, while the other would keep federally banned substances from ever being legalized by voters.
The state attorney general finalized the ballot explanation for the medical marijuana repeal measure in August. But SDBML recently said the initiative should be thrown out due to an alleged error in how the proposal was filed, failing to include a full list of the state statutes it would seek to undo.
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After voters approved medical cannabis legalization in 2020, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) tried to get the legislature to approve a bill to delay implementation for an additional year. But while it cleared the House, negotiators were unable to reach an agreement with the Senate in conference, dealing a defeat to the governor.
In response, Noem’s office started exploring a compromise, with one proposal that came out of her administration to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, limit the number of plants that patients could cultivate to three and prohibit people under 21 from qualifying for medical marijuana.
In the 2022 legislative session, the House rejected a legalization bill that the Senate had passed, effectively leaving it up to activists to get on the ballot again.
A Marijuana Interim Study Committee, headed by legislative leaders, was established to explore cannabis policy reform, and the panel in November 2021 recommended that the legislature take up legalization. The House-defeated legislation was one of the direct products of that recommendation.
Currently more than 11,500 people in South Dakota hold medical marijuana cards—nearly double the 6,000 cardholders that state officials expected to enroll in the program by 2024.
Colorado Governor And Activists Celebrate 10-Year Anniversary Of First Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales
Photo courtesy of Max Pixel.
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Step inside a few of South Dakota’s most iconic steakhouses, where the baked potatoes are foil-wrapped and the wood-fired grill is crackling.
Don’t mess with South Dakota’s red meat.
With some of the best, high-quality cattle in the country raised right here in the Mt. Rushmore state, you’ll easily find a ribeye nearby.
But not all steaks are the same. We compared the cut, the prep and the presentation and narrowed down a few of our favorite steakhouses for our carnivores.
Hartford Steak Co. Tavern
The concept for a small and affordable menu began with a burger sold for a nickel by Diane Friese’s great-grandfather in the 1920s. A family tradition untouched over the decades, you can still buy a filet mignon for an easy $15 at the Hartford Steak Co. today. But that’s about it. The filets are sized up to 24 ounces, then there’s steak tips or a hot beef sandwich to choose from. All come with a crisp, cold lettuce wedge, baked potato, and warm French bread. On the weekends, they spice it up with a $20 prime rib dinner (meaning the filets are off the menu, only one choice for you). Order a margarita on the side and enjoy a no-fuss night.
The Hartford Steakhouse has a second location in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Details: 709 N. Mundt Ave., Hartford, S.D., 605-528-6185, hartfordsteakcotavern.com.
Morrie’s Steakhouse
It’s giving Old Hollywood glam, some soft jazz and extravagance. Namesake Morrie Richards was a humble farmer from Ipswich, South Dakota, but Mama taught the family hospitality, and now the steakhouse is an experience for families and business diners. Steak is the star, but what comes with it elevates the night. Shared sides include loaded hash browns or smoked pork mac, and steak accompaniments include a 75-day-old cave-aged blue cheese slab or a three-day veal demi-glaze. Morrie’s honors community ranchers as well, bringing to the table local grass-fed butcher cuts and bone-in Tomahawk wagyu ribeyes.
Details: 2507 S. Shirley Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-362-8125, morriessteakhouse.com.
Mad Mary’s
Along the Big Sioux River in South Dakota is Mad Mary’s Steakhouse, a classic mom-and-pop in Flandreau, South Dakota, that’s been attracting hunters for more than 30 years. It’s changed hands a few times, but has been led now by Christina Ramos since 2018, who served at Mad Mary’s for more than a decade. She’s got a “secret seasoning” in the kitchen for her prime rib and sirloins, but come for the Butcher’s Trio to try it all: a plate of beef, chicken and pork served with a twice-baked potato and buttered toast for $50.
Mad Mary’s has a second location in Pierre, South Dakota, under different ownership, where you get a free T-shirt if you order a margarita. Size up after all that hearty South Dakota beef.
Details: 306 N. Veterans St., Flandreau, S.D., 605-997-9901, madmaryssteakhouse.com.
Ironwood Steakhouse
A bespoke contemporary experience in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Minneapolis-based restaurateurs of Ironwood Steakhouse bring to town their crisp white linens, sparkly chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Big Sioux River and Falls Park.
The maître d wears a suit and tie, so maybe you should, too.
The two-story, upscale supper club brings in its prime-aged beef from Snake River Farms in Idaho and cooks over coals for that unmistakable sear. Try the eight-ounce wagyu Zabuton, steak tartare or the steak Diane: an eight-ounce teres major cut with mushroom cream sauce.
Then return for their mushroom pierogis, rabbit stroganoff or even just an espresso martini at the bar, served with your own picture printed atop the foam.
A toast to our steak victors.
Details: 150 E. Fourth Place, Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-937-0280, ironwoodsf.com.
Delmonico Grill
Another for the upscale diners, Delmonico Grill in Rapid City, South Dakota, has been serving its in-house, dry-aged “Kona” Hawaiian style ribeye for nearly 20 years. It’s classic steakhouse fare in a comfortable atmosphere: Choose from intimate booths or red velvet benches, with a view of downtown Main Street always abuzz.
Details: 609 Main St., Rapid City, S.D., 605-791-1664, delmonicogrill.com.
Did we miss your favorite steakhouse? Drop us a line at ageorge@usatodayco.com with details.
Angela George is the trending news reporter for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, part of the USA TODAY Co. network. Email ageorge@usatodayco.com.
South Dakota
Political Pulse: Toby Doeden returns to talk on his bid to become South Dakota’s next governor
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – South Dakota gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden joins political pulse to talk his campaign, ideas on property tax reform and more.
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MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Kalen Garry’s 15 points helped South Dakota State defeat Ball State 68-64 on Tuesday.
Garry added eight rebounds and seven assists for the Jackrabbits (6-5). Damon Wilkinson scored 14 points (7 of 12 from the field) and added eight rebounds and three blocks. Matthew Mors went 4 of 4 shooting to finish with 10 points, while grabbing six rebounds.
Joey Hart led the way for the Cardinals (3-7) with 18 points. Ball State also got 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks from Kayden Fish. Davion Hill also had 10 points.
Garry scored 11 points in the first half and South Dakota State went into halftime trailing 40-39. South Dakota State used a 9-0 second-half run to break a 53-53 tie and take the lead at 62-53 with 8:49 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Jaden Jackson scored seven second-half points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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