Incoming SDGOP legislator signals IM26 might survive

Despite the conventional wisdom that Initiated Measure 26 which legalizes cannabis for some patients will simply be repealed by South Dakota's Koch soaked legislature, a newly elected Lawrence County lawgiver is signaling it might survive. Mary Fitzgerald is married to LawCo State's Attorney John Fitzgerald and is a longtime SDGOP boss.   

Fitzgerald told KELOLAND News her proposals would apply to medicinal marijuana and, if the court doesn’t rule in favor of the lawsuit, recreational marijuana as well. [Bob Mercer]

As expected the Pennington County Sheriff and Superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol have asked a Hughes County judge to toss Amendment A since it violates the state's constitution by addressing multiple topics. 

Incel Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg is required by law to defend Amendment A against legal challenges so despite killing Joe Boever with his car Governor Kristi Noem needs him because he will guarantee a shitty defense. Ravnsborg is an elector so it's possible he will step down after the Electoral College meets on December 14.

If either or both of the successful cannabis ballot initiatives stay afloat and the Neanderthal legislature had any integrity or ethics (they don’t) they would empower the tribal nations trapped in South Dakota to be the sole industry producers in the state (they won't). 

The US House is poised to pass the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 or MORE Act which removes cannabis from Schedule 1 and legalization remains in the hands of the states. The bill's lead sponsor in the Senate is Vice President-elect Sen. Kamala Harris. It's unlikely the bill will pass in the current Senate but after the Georgia runoffs in January Vice President Harris will vote to break a 50-50 tie. 

But Republican leadership is an oxymoron and anyone who believes South Dakota's At-large Representative Howdy Doody Dusty Johnson will vote for it despite overwhelming support for legal cannabis in my home state is delusional.

As President Joe Biden is taking the Oath in January Trump Organization-appointed US Attorney for the District of South Dakota Ron Parsons will be leaving office freeing tribal governments to better exercise their sovereignty so Tatewin Means should replace him.