2020 South Dakota Amendment A

Constitutional Amendment A
Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 225,260 54.18%
No 190,477 45.82%
Valid votes 415,737 97.24%
Invalid or blank votes 11,792 2.76%
Total votes 427,529 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 578,655 73.88%

Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, was a cannabis legalization initiative that appeared on the November 3, 2020 South Dakota general election ballot. Passing with 54% of the vote, the measure would have legalized recreational marijuana in South Dakota effective July 1, 2021. Additionally, Amendment A required the South Dakota State Legislature to establish a medical marijuana program and legal hemp sales by April 1, 2022.[1]

On February 8, 2021, Amendment A was struck down as unconstitutional by Judge Christina Klinger on the grounds that it violated the state's single-subject rule for ballot initiatives. The case was appealed to the state supreme court which upheld the decision on November 24, 2021.[2]

With the passage of South Dakota Initiated Measure 26 on the same ballot, South Dakota would have become the first state in US history to legalize recreational and medical cannabis simultaneously.[3] Along with Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey, South Dakota was one of four states that voted to legalize cannabis via ballot measures in the November 2020 election.

  1. ^ "South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)". Ballotpedia.
  2. ^ The Associated Press (November 24, 2021). "South Dakota's Supreme Court rules against legalization of recreational marijuana". NPR. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "South Dakota legalizes adult-use cannabis after passing medical measure". Marijuana Business Daily. November 4, 2020.