The effort to put medical marijuana before voters in November has hit a stumbling block. The ballot petition submitted to the Secretary of State’s office failed to receive approval.
Petition organizers submitted over 16-thousand signatures for verification. The Secretary of State’s Office validation process shows only about 9-thousand met requirements. About 14-thousand valid signatures are needed. Organizers have 30-days to challenge the ruling if they choose.
However, three state legislators have now signed on to Senate Bill 167 which petition organizers say takes the place of the ballot initiative.
The bill is sponsored by two Democrats and one Republican lawmaker. It legalizes marijuana for medical use in South Dakota. It’s set for hearing in the coming days before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.