South Dakota is one of only a handful of states where ingestion of a controlled substance is a felony. If Senate Bill 167 passes, stakeholders will come together to study the impact of these laws on the state’s criminal justice system.
The House Judiciary committee on Monday, March 4, voted 10-1 to approve SB 167. The bill would establish a legislative study to examine alternatives to imprisonment for drug offenders, as well as the fiscal impact of South Dakota’s drug laws on state and local governments.
Sen. Jeff Partridge, R-Rapid City, said the bill “is not an endorsement or a step toward legalization” of marijuana or other controlled substances, but is aimed at getting the full picture of South Dakota’s drug laws and how they impact citizens.
Read the full story at The Jamestown Sun.