Title:
S.D.: Bill proposed to protect medical marijuana patients
Message:
Urge your lawmakers to support a medical necessity defense
According to the Rapid City Journal, two South Dakota lawmakers – Sen. Craig Tieszen (R-Rapid City) and Rep. Dan Kaiser (R-Aberdeen) – will introduce legislation to create a medical marijuana necessity defense. If passed into law, the bill would allow medical marijuana patients to prove in court that their possession and use of marijuana was for medical purposes. Please email your state senator and state representative and ask them to support this sensible and compassionate change.
If passed, the proposal would reverse the current practice of preventing any evidence of even a serious illness to be presented at trial for marijuana possession charges. There are mountains of evidence demonstrating marijuana’s medical efficacy. While the bill would not prevent patient arrests, it would at least provide patients a chance to avoid a criminal conviction and possible jail time. Ask your state lawmakers to support this proposal today!
This legislation would not be a radical reform. It simply allows people the ability to explain to the court why they decided to violate the law. Ask your legislators to allow the courts to look at all the evidence; ask your legislators to support a medical necessity law!
