After campaigning against it, Noem expresses support on medical marijuana

PIERRE, SD – Governor Kristi Noem has always been a staunch opponent of marijuana legalization and spoke out against it ahead of the November 2020 elections.

However, Noem is now arguing that she’s a long-time medical marijuana supporter.

In an email to Dakota News Now / KOTA, Noem’s communications director Ian Fury said the governor had long endorsed the idea of ​​medical marijuana legalization but only wanted it to be “FDA approved” first.

It’s true that Noem has temporarily stated that she could since at least 2018 Support medical marijuana with FDA approval. During the campaign to become governor, Noem said, “She would not support medical marijuana without FDA approval.”

Noem was not always as passionate about her support, however. In an interview with Dakota Radio Group in 2019, Noem said, “I would consider this (medical marijuana) if it were approved through the FDA process.”

Noem was against both Amendment A to legalize recreational marijuana and IM 26. In the run-up to the 2020 elections, Noem’s office said several times that it would not support any of the measures.

After IM 26 won by an overwhelming majority, Noem began vociferously to express his disapproval of the result. During her budget address for 2020, Noem called the vote on medical marijuana “disappointing”.

“I would like to mention a budget adjustment in connection with the disappointing votes on marijuana in this year’s ballot box,” said Noem. “There are significant safety and regulatory costs associated with both the medical marijuana measure and the recreational measure.”

Noems The opposition after the election was not limited to one instance, “I personally opposed these measures and I firmly believe they are the wrong choice for the South Dakota communities. We need to find ways to strengthen our families, and I think we are taking a step back in that regard. I am also very disappointed that we will add millions of dollars to the state government in public safety costs and the establishment of this new regulatory system. “

During the 2021 legislative period Noem’s office tabled a bill that would have delayed the introduction of medical marijuana for a full year longer than IM 26 requested. Although the law was ultimately rejected, opponents criticized the law as an attempt to “delay” the governor’s office of introducing medical marijuana.

Fury admits in its statement that Noem “did not endorse IM-26 last year,” on the pretext that it did not receive FDA approval. However, despite their recent testimony, as of now, medical marijuana has not received FDA approval.

This is not the first time cannabis has given Noem a political headache. During her first term as governor, Noem vetoed a measure that would have legalized industrial hemp, which brought her into conflict with the Republican-dominated legislature. In one (n op-ed for the Wall Street Journal explaining the move Noem stated that “States that have legalized hemp are struggling to enforce marijuana regulations. Hemp and marijuana look and smell the same. ”Additionally, Noem’s office is currently trying to overturn Amendment A in the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Fury continues: “(Noem) has stated repeatedly that she respects the will of voters and is working to implement South Dakota’s medical cannabis program as quickly, safely and responsibly as possible. We are on track to achieve this according to the schedule approved by voters in IM-26. “

Medical marijuana will become legal in the state on July 1. Licenses and IDs will not be available until 2021.