South Dakota marijuana advocates are holding a press conference right now to talk about the two #cannabis ballot measures they intend to get on the SD ballot. You can turn into the zoom meeting here: bit.ly/3fcArqA
"The issue for me is that we are criminalizing a generation," said Brendan Johnson, former United States Attorney for South Dakota. "And I don't think that's in our state's best interest ... I think we have an over-criminalization problem when it comes to cannabis."
One reporter asked about youth marijuana use and about impact on traffic fatalities, and an organizer of the press conference googles the answer. Press conferences in the time of zoom, amiright?
Chuck Parkinson, a member of President Reagan's administration, says there is a financial benefit for South Dakota to legalize marijuana.
Another reporter asks if they expect to see opposition from SD Governor Kristi Noem. Chuck Parkison: Yes.
Says he would be surprised if she did not push back.
Noem vetoed an industrial hemp bill last year.
Most fascinating part of this call: advocates for the bill saying it will put South Dakota ahead when federal law changes. They will have the strongest market in the area and will be able to export #cannabis to surrounding states.
Melissa Mentele, an organizer, says they put the ingestion law into the medical marijuana measure because people were afraid to come visit S.D. due to its very strict marijuana laws, and were afraid to be charged w/a felony. #cannabisnews
Hah Matt with @MarijuanaPolicy on this call says he "has fingers in every legalization effort" -- which is true.
There's a lot of talk about absentee ballots on this call. The campaign to legalize #cannabis plans to do a strong push for people to sign up for absentee ballots in the state, to increase voter turnout for this issue. Melissa Mentele says she thinks the POTUS election will help.
I'm honestly shocked that it took 40+ minutes for this conversation to touch on the lack of bank investments in cannabis.
Matt Schweich says "thats part of why this campaign is so important" because as there are more states w/cannabis industries it will increase fed pressure.
*these ballot initiatives are ON the ballot, sorry. They are trying to get them passed. This is what happens when I fill in for the super smart @ZhangMona 😉😉
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