Recent Poll Shows South Dakota Voters Might Approve Marijuana Legalization in 2024
A recent poll conducted by a research hub at the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University indicates that voters in the state may be ready for marijuana legalization. The SDSU poll surveyed 747 registered voters, and 49% said they were in favor of recreational cannabis legalization. The poll found that 41% of those asked were against marijuana legalization, and 10% were undecided. If an adult-use cannabis initiative makes it to voters in 2024, it would be the third time South Dakotans had an opportunity to pass such legislation. In 2020, 54% of voters approved cannabis legalization, but a lawsuit defeated the measure in 2021. In November 2022, 53% of voters opposed an adult-use cannabis measure, but passed medical marijuana legislation.
CO House of Representatives Passes Bill to Permit Online Cannabis Sales
The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow adults to purchase their cannabis online. The bill is from Democratic Representatives William Lindstedt, Said Sharbini, and Robert Rodriguez and it passed the House with a vote of 40-23. Supporters of the legislation say it would help businesses lessen the number of cash transactions and therefore lower their risk of being targeted for criminal activity. If passed, the bill would remove language from the current statute that explicitly prohibits marijuana from being sold online. It would also establish regulations for online cannabis commerce. Adults that are 21 and older would still need to go to a physical dispensary to pick up their cannabis purchase. However, they would be able to peruse and purchase via an online platform.
Missouri’s Newly Legal Cannabis Market Faces Shortages
As with many nascent state-legal cannabis markets, Missouri is facing some growing pains. Recreational cannabis sales launched on February 3rd, and current predictions have the newly legal market on pace to surpass $1 billion in sales in the first year. But, retailers have seen far more significant demand than initially anticipated, particularly from medical marijuana patients and out-of-state recreational consumers. Near the state’s Kansas border, retail stores report a nine-fold increase in foot traffic. In the southeastern region of the state, consumers from Illinois are crossing into Missouri to purchase cannabis in St. Louis, where it is cheaper than in their home state. The surge in demand has caused the price of wholesale cannabis to spike and there are shortages throughout the supply chain.
