South Dakota has been slow to adjust to changing medical and cultural attitudes about marijuana. Even while states across the country started legalizing the drug, the state maintained its prohibition. Following the 2020 election, that changed.
Amendment A passed by a margin of roughly 10%, demonstrating a strong showing of support among voters. This law drastically altered the approach to marijuana in South Dakota, but many people don’t understand exactly what it did.
What Amendment A means for recreational marijuana
The most significant change under Amendment A is the legalization of recreational marijuana use by adults who are 21 or older. Any person in South Dakota can possess up to an ounce of marijuana. They can also distribute it to others.
Those who live in an area where there are no licensed marijuana dispensaries will have the option of growing up to three marijuana plants in their own home in a locked space. Amendment A also created a tax framework for recreational marijuana sales.
What Amendment A means for medical marijuana and hemp
Amendment A forced legal changes in all of the three major areas of concern regarding marijuana. While most people who use the plant are considered recreational users, there are also medical users.
Conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis and epilepsy to cancer sometimes respond positively to marijuana treatments. State lawmakers will have to create a framework for a medical marijuana program thanks to Amendment A. Amendment A also paves the way for the legal sale of hemp in the states, which could be a boon for farmers.
Understanding the rules that changed under Amendment A can help people avoid unknowingly committing a drug offense. If you do find yourself facing charges, it’s important to seek legal guidance.