South Dakota voters defeat recreational marijuana, food tax repeal

November 6, 2024

PIERRE, S.D.–South Dakota voters said “no” to a number of Constitutional amendments, initiated measures and overturned a law passed by the Legislature Tuesday.

Among the amendments going down in defeat were placing the right to an abortion into the state constitution, establishing “top two” primary elections in the state, and updating the constitution to reflect the gender of certain officeholders.

The only amendment to pass was Amendment F, which places a work requirement on people eligible for expanded Medicaid benefits.

Both initiated measures on the ballot failed. One would have eliminated the tax on anything sold for human consumption in South Dakota. There were fears that if passed, that measure would reduce state revenues, and eventually lead to a state income tax.

Also failing was a measure a measure to legalize the use, possession and distribution of recreational marijuana in South Dakota. It’s the third time voters have turned down that idea.

Also on the ballot was Referred Law 21, which dealt largely with a controversial carbon dioxide pipeline. Sixty percent of voters chose “no” on the referred law, which means they supported overturning the law legislators passed.