RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City leaders have come out in opposition to Initiated Measure 29.
IM29, if passed, will legalize the recreational use, possession, and distribution of marijuana in the state.
Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun says “Visiting with mayors where this is legalized, in particular in Colorado, which I had a chance to do months ago, they all cautioned me, if you cannot have this in your community, please don’t.”
Proponents of IM 29 cite that it will reduce prison populations and regulate a currently illegal market.
However, those in opposition have stated that it will give minors easy access to the drug and cause an increase in DUI arrests.
Mayor Salamun took to X recently to explain his stance on all ballot measures. For IM 29, he stated that “there is no community in the US that has flourished as a result of legalizing recreational marijuana,” but Kitt Jeffries, owner of Dakota Cannabis Consulting and Puffy’s Dispensary, and someone who could benefit from the passing of IM 29, says this is not the case.
