Medical cannabis won’t make South Dakota ballot

Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in South Dakota have failed to bring the matter to a public vote.

A petition to put medical marijuana on the ballot for the state’s November general election was rejected because it didn’t have enough valid signatures.

Under the MMJ initiative, local governments wouldn’t be allowed to ban dispensaries, and there would be no limits on how many businesses could be licensed.

Secretary of State Shantel Krebs said a random sampling determined that of the petition’s 15,000 signatures, only about 9,500 were valid – far short of the 13,871 required.

The rejection can be challenged in court.

– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily