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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Is South Dakota's governor backing efforts to overturn a just-approved ballot initiative legalizing marijuana?

By Isabella Jorgensen
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YES

A sheriff and a highway-patrol superintendent are seeking to overturn an amendment to South Dakota's constitution legalizing recreational marijuana. Gov. Kristi Noem approved the use of state funds to help fund their lawsuit seeking to void the measure, which won 56% support in the November election.

The lawsuit claims the amendment violates a "one-subject rule" limiting the scope of any proposed amendment, and that it was improperly introduced, asserting that what was called an amendment was really more of a revision.

"In South Dakota, we respect our constitution," Gov. Noem said. A spokesperson added that defending the state's constitution is part of her duty as governor. "I just don't see smoking pot as a gateway to helping people be better," she told a Sioux Falls newspaper in October.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Ballotpedia: South Dakota Amendment A, 2020
Rapid City Journal: State paying part of lawsuit to overturn recreational marijuana use
Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Personal freedom not part of Noem's thinking on legal pot in South Dakota
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.