Only two members of the South Dakota House of Representatives (one Republican, Kevin Jensen, and one Democrat, Doug Post) voted against South Dakota House Bill 1191 (HB1191), legislation that, if enacted, would legalize industrial hemp, but not marijuana, in South Dakota. As of this writing (February 17, 2019), the legislation is currently pending before the South Dakota State Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Despite the overwhelming support for industrial hemp in South Dakota, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is a staunch opponent of HB1191 and claims, without facts or evidence, that legalizing industrial hemp in South Dakota would effectively legalize marijuana in South Dakota:
I encourage state legislators in South Dakota to pass HB1191 and legalize industrial hemp in South Dakota. Should Governor Noem veto HB1191, a two-thirds majority of both houses of the South Dakota State Legislature would be needed to override a gubernatorial veto.
Despite the overwhelming support for industrial hemp in South Dakota, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is a staunch opponent of HB1191 and claims, without facts or evidence, that legalizing industrial hemp in South Dakota would effectively legalize marijuana in South Dakota:
(South Dakota Gov. Kristi) Noem reiterated her opposition to legalizing industrial hemp in 2019 during her weekly press conference, saying she has "very real concerns" about passing House Bill 1191 during this legislative session.I support efforts in this country to legalize industrial hemp and marijuana, but, as Representative Lesmeister correctly pointed out, HB1191 would not legalize marijuana in South Dakota. Industrial hemp and marijuana are two different plants, and it is fairly easy for a person trained to differentiate industrial hemp from marijuana to be able to do so. Industrial hemp can be used to make many different types of products, including clothing, textiles, rope, animal bedding, paper, and biodiesel, and, if South Dakota were to legalize industrial hemp, that would be a significant benefit to South Dakota's economy.
"I believe if we move ahead with industrial hemp and we aren't prepared with it from a regulatory standpoint, from an enforcement standpoint, if we don't have the equipment and dollars to do this correctly, we will be opening the door to allowing marijuana to be legalized in the state of South Dakota," Noem said.
Bill sponsor Rep. Oren Lesmeister, D-Parade, said on Friday that Noem's statement was false. The plants don't look identical and the bill includes the federal government's definitions for both industrial hemp and marijuana to differentiate what is being legalized, he said.
I encourage state legislators in South Dakota to pass HB1191 and legalize industrial hemp in South Dakota. Should Governor Noem veto HB1191, a two-thirds majority of both houses of the South Dakota State Legislature would be needed to override a gubernatorial veto.
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