2012 legislative session begins in Pierre
The 2012 legislative session has begun in Pierre. Last year, lawmakers failed to protect sick and
suffering residents of the Mount Rushmore state from arrest, prosecution, and
conviction for using medical marijuana under their physicians' recommendations. Sixteen states, and the District of Columbia, recognize that jailing patients is
not good policy. In addition, another 16 states are already considering amending their laws to protect medical marijuana patients this year.
Help protect patients in South Dakota — ask your legislators to introduce medical marijuana this session.
South Dakota does not just criminalize medical marijuana patients, but all marijuana users; however, that has not always been the case. South Dakota is the only state to decriminalize,
and then recriminalize, marijuana possession. In the late 1970s, the South
Dakota Legislature passed a marijuana decriminalization law only to see the new
legislature immediately repeal that law when they were sworn in a couple months
later. Ask your state legislators to once again decriminalize marijuana possession by introducing legislation that will replace current criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of
marijuana with a more sensible civil violation.
Can medical marijuana help you?
In order to pass medical marijuana legislation, we need to hear from patients who could benefit (or are already benefiting) from medical marijuana. If you are a patient who might benefit from medical marijuana, or if you know somebody who might benefit from medical marijuana, please contact MPP at state@mpp.org to find out how you can help. Please include your nine-digit zip code or your address, so we can figure out who your state legislators are.
Additionally, if you are a medical professional, law enforcement officer, or a member of the clergy, your help could be particularly valuable. If you would like to volunteer to help with this effort, please email state@mpp.org.
Learn about South Dakota's marijuana laws
In 2007, there were 1,456 arrests for marijuana possession in South Dakota and 130 arrests for marijuana sales. These marijuana arrests accounted for 73 percent of all drug arrests in South Dakota that year. Possession of just a small amount of marijuana in the state carries a potential penalty of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine! You can learn more about South Dakota's marijuana penalties and enforcement by reading this report by Jon Gettman, Ph.D.
Stay connected
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