>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THE HYDE COUNTY HAS ANNOUNCED THREE CHARGES AGAINST RAVENS BORING.

THESE CHARGES COME FIVE MONTHS AFTER RAVNSBORG STRUCK AND KILLED A PEDESTRIAN, JASON BOEVER, WHILE DRIVING WEST OF HIGHMORE ON HIGHWAY 14.

PLUS, WE HEAR FROM STATE SENATOR AND ECONOMICS PROFESSOR REYNOLD NESIBA ON STATE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ON THIS WEEK'S PEER TO PIERRE WITH LEE STRUBINGER AND SETH TUPPER EXPLAINS HOW NEW EFFORT TO MANAGE THE PROMOTE THE STATE'S BISON HERD IN WEEK'S INSTALLMENT ON WHY IS THAT.

BUT FIRST, HERE'S TONIGHT'S MAIN FOCUS.

>>> SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS APPROVED TWO MARIJUANA MEASURES IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

AMENDMENT A LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, ESTABLISHED A TAX ON MARIJUANA SALES, AND REQUIRED THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS LAWS ON HEMP.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSED WITH 54% OF THE VOTE.

INITIATED MEASURE 26 LEGALIZED THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

IT PASSED WITH 70% OF THE VOTE.

TO PUT THOSE VOTES IN SOME PERSPECTIVE, 62% OF SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND IN 2018, KRISTI NOEM WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WITH 51% OF THE VOTES.

BOTH MARIJUANA MEASURES WERE SET TO BECOME LAW ON JULY 1ST.

BUT LEGAL CHALLENGES AND OTHER SETBACKS ARE MAKING ACTION TO LEGALIZE ANY MARIJUANA USE IN SOUTH DAKOTA UNLIKELY THIS YEAR.

A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE RULED LAST WEEK THAT AMENDMENT A VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

BUT THE DECISION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MARIJUANA.

JUDGE CHRISTINA KLINGER RULED THE BALLOT MEASURE VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE IT INCLUDED MORE THAN ONE SUBJECT.

SHE SAYS THE AMENDMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AS A CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION.

THE JUDGE SAYS SUCH AN AMENDMENT "HAS FAR-REACHING EFFECTS ON THE BASIC NATURE OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM."

A CONVENTION OF STATE DELEGATES PUTS A CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION ON THE BALLOT, NOT THE PETITION SYSTEM USED FOR INITIATED MEASURES AND AMENDMENTS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHICH DEFENDS STATE LAWS THAT ARE CHALLENGED IN COURT, WILL NOT APPEAL THE DECISION.

AMENDMENT A SUPPORTERS PLAN TO TAKE THE ISSUE TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WEREN'T SURPRISED BY THE RULING.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER TROY HEINERT SAYS DESPITE THE LEGAL CHALLENGE, LAWMAKERS SHOULD MOVE FORWARD ON A LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK.

>> IF THE SUPREME COURT THROWS OUT THAT RULING AND NOW WE'RE A MONTH AWAY FROM JULY 1, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE CALLED BACK AND HAVE TO HAVE A RUSHED PRODUCT.

WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED THIS IN NOVEMBER.

>> A BILL FROM REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE DERBY ESTABLISHES PROVISIONS FOR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

IT WAS FILED BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT RULING AND HAS NOT YET BEEN HEARD IN COMMITTEE.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS LIKE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GARY CAMMACK SAY THE COURT ACTIONS HAVE SHIFTED THEIR FOCUS AWAY FROM RECREATIONAL LEGALIZATION.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON THAT ISSUE.

WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE BILL THAT'S IN THE HOUSE IS GONNA GIVE US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO DO THIS SAFELY AND CORRECTLY.

>> CAMMACK IS REFERRING TO HOUSE BILL 1100.

IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL PROPOSALS INTRODUCED AS PLACEHOLDERS FOR MARIJUANA LEGISLATION.

LAST WEEK, HOUSE SPEAKER SPENSER GOSCH AMENDED THE BILL TO INCLUDE MORE STUDY ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND DELAY STARTING A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM UNTIL 2022.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM SUPPORTS DELAYING LEGALIZATION.

SHE SAYS INDUSTRY CONSULTANTS ARE ADVISING HER ADMINISTRATION.

>> AND THAT INDUSTRY EXPERT THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH IS CANNABIS PUBLIC POLICY CONSULTANTS.

THEY ADVISE IT TYPICALLY TAKES LONGER TO GET THESE PROGRAMS SET UP AND DO IT CORRECTLY, SOMETIMES MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO GET IT EFFECTIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND FUNCTIONING.

>> CANNABIS PUBLIC POLICY CONSULTANTS DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW.

CRITICS SAY ANY DELAY ON A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM GOES AGAINST THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND CAUSES ADDITIONAL SUFFERING FOR PROSPECTIVE PATIENTS.

REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE SMITH IS THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

HE WORRIES ABOUT THE CONTINUED CRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA UNTIL LAWMAKERS DEVELOP THE MEDICAL PROGRAM.

>> MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE FAMILIES.

THOSE FAMILIES, THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP AND HAVE BEEN WAITING.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE RIGHT NOW PROVIDING THIS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES OR THEMSELVES ILLEGALLY, AND I SHARE THE CONCERN OF THAT QUESTION.

>> CURRENT SOUTH DAKOTA LAW SAYS POSSESSION OF UP TO TWO OUNCES OF MARIJUANA IS A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR.

PUNISHMENT CAN BE UP TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL AND A $2,000 FINE.

POSSESSING MORE THAN TWO OUNCES IS A FELONY.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER LAWMAKERS WILL DOWNGRADE THOSE DESIGNATIONS WHILE THEY IMPLEMENT A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

GOVERNOR NOEM HAS NOT RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT CAN BE HAD.

I JUST AM CONCERNED ABOUT ALSO IMPLEMENTING THIS CORRECTLY.

ONCE WE IMPLEMENT THIS PROCESS ON THE MEDICAL SIDE, AND BECAUSE IT IS A MEDICAL ISSUE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR PEOPLE.

GETTING THEM THE HELP THEY NEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT IT'S WELL REGULATED, WELL RUN, AND IS DONE CORRECTLY.

>> HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO MAKE HER POSITION ON LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA CLEAR.

>> WELL, I'M STILL NOT IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

I STILL BELIEVE THAT IT IS A BAD IDEA FOR OUR STATE.

THAT IS CERTAINLY A PREROGATIVE THAT THESE LEGISLATORS CAN PURSUE IN PUTTING A BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

I WOULD NOT BE INCLINED TO SIGN ONE.

>> GOVERNOR NOEM SUPPORTS THE CIRCUIT JUDGE'S RULING AGAINST AMENDMENT A.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS SHE WILL SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS ON A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM AS LONG AS THE TIMING IS RIGHT.

>> THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PASSED THE BILL TO DELAY A MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM YESTERDAY.

HERE TO DISCUSS THE HEARING IS MELISSA MEANTELE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW APPROACH SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE GROUP ADVOCATES FOR CANNABIS REFORM.

MELISSA, THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO, MELISSA, I HEARD YOU TESTIFY IN COMMITTEE YESTERDAY, THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO WHEN IT COMES TO LOBBYING IN THE CAPITOL FOR CANNABIS REFORM.

YOU'VE BEEN AT IT FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW.

HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE DRAFTING OF INITIATED MEASURE 26.

WELL AWARE THAT NEW LAWS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, ONCE, YOU KNOW, APPROVED BY THE VOTERS TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1st, TYPICALLY.

I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU BEEN SURPRISED BY THE REACTION IN PIERRE OVER THE LAST WEEK IN REGARDS TO THE TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM?

>> YES AND NO.

WE'VE HAD -- I THINK THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT IS WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT CONVERSATIONS IN PIERRE.

OBVIOUSLY YESTERDAY, WE DIDN'T COME UP IN THE COMMITTEE WITH THE RESULTS THAT WE HAD HOPED FOR.

BUT WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING THROUGHOUT THE CAPITOL, THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT SUPPORT LEGALIZATION.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO RIGHT NOW IS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

AND WE HAD HOPED WHEN WE PASSED 26 IN NOVEMBER T GAVE THEM A CLEAR PATH FORWARD.

AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION.

>> UM-HUM.

>> FOR FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH INITIATED MEASURE 26, THEY CAN FIND IT, THE ENTIRE TEXT, ONLINE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 26 PAGES OR SO.

HOW MUCH OF THAT IS OUTLINED IN THAT DOCUMENT, AT LEAST FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AS FAR AS HOW TO GO THROUGH AND IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM?

>> WELL, IT'S FUNNY.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY THAT 26 HAS ABOUT THREE PARAGRAPHS OF ONE IS QUALIFYING POSITIONS, ONE IS AMOUNT AND ONE IS DEFINITIONS AND THE REST OF IT IS RULES AND REGULATIONS.

AND, SO, WE GAVE THEM A VERY CLEAR ROAD MAP FORWARD, WITH 26, AND IT'S JUST ASTONISHING THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH IMPLEMENTATION WHEN WE GO FROM SEED TO SALE IN THE BILL.

>> SEVERAL OF THE FOLKS WHO TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF HOUSE BILL 1100, WHICH WOULD DELAY THIS AND START THE SUMMER STUDY AND THINGS LIKE THIS, SEVERAL DEPARTMENT SECRETARIES IN NOEM'S ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING SECRETARY OF HEALTH, KIM MALSAM RYSDON, SO I WANT TO PLAY A BITE FROM COMMITTEE TESTIMONY YESTERDAY WHERE SECRETARY MALSAM RYSDON DISCUSSES PART OF THE CHALLENGES IN A TIGHT TIMELINE FOR ESTABLISHING A PROCESS LIKE THIS.

>> FROM START TO ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE IS A SIX-MONTH PROCESS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE REVIEW PROCESSES, FISCAL REVIEW PROCESSES, I MEAN, SO THERE'S MORE TO IT THAT I APPRECIATE THE FRUSTRATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

I KNOW THAT FRUSTRATION BECAUSE WE COME TO THE RULES COMMITTEE A LOT.

SO IT'S HIRING PEOPLE, TIME INVOLVED WITH THAT, TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK THROUGH THIS ISSUE THOROUGHLY.

BUT IT'S BEEN JUST THE PROCESSES THEMSELVES THAT TAKE TIME.

>> SO, MELISSA, BASED ON THAT SOUND BITE AND SOME OF THE OTHER TESTIMONIES THAT YOU HEARD FROM CABINET MEMBERS, ARE ANY OF THESE TIMELINES OR ANY OF THESE OTHER OBSTACLES THAT THEY MENTIONED REALLY THAT INSURMOUNTABLE IN YOUR MIND?

>> NO.

WE GAVE THEM EIGHT MONTHS TO START ISSUING LICENSES, EIGHT MONTHS AND THEN NINE MONTHS TO DO PATIENT CARDS.

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT CANNABIS LEGALIZATION AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT SINCE AUGUST.

WE ATTENDED A MEETING THE NIGHT PRIOR TO COMMITTEE WHERE THOSE CABINETS PUT ON A PRESENTATION FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ON AN IMPLEMENTATION SINCE AUGUST.

SO THEY'RE ALREADY SEVERAL MONTHS INTO THIS PROCESS AND STILL HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXTEND IT AND THEY'VE GOT 20 AND 21 MONTHS.

THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO PUT THIS IN PLACE.

>> THE COMMENT WAS MADE AT A FEW DIFFERENT POINTS DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING, AS FAR AS HOW MUCH OF THIS PROCESS WOULD FALL ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THIS IDEA OF BEING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IN THE PAST YEAR, MAYBE WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WOULD BE A MORE LENGTHY PROCESS FOR THEM.

I GUESS, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT LINE OF THINKING?

>> WELL, DIRECTLY AFTER 1100 PASSED, THE BILL TO APPROPRIATE MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM DID ALSO PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE.

AND THAT ALLOCATED $4 MILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR LEGALIZATION IMPLEMENTATION.

I THINK WITH $4 MILLION, THEY CAN AFFORD TO HIRE STAFF AND TRAIN THEM AND IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PATIENTS.

THE MONEY IS THERE.

THEY HAVE A CANNABIS POLICY EXPERT ON STAFF AT THE CAPITOL NOW.

THERE'S NO REASON FOR A DELAY.

IT'S FUNDED.

THE EXPERT IS THERE.

LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

>> A LOT OF THE OPPONENT TESTIMONY, SO PEOPLE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL AND IN OPPOSITION TO THE DELAY, WAS PARTICULARLY EMOTIONAL.

THESE WERE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO EITHER THEMSELVES ARE PROSPECTIVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS, HAVE LOVED ONES WHO WOULD BE PROSPECTIVE MARIJUANA PATIENTS.

WE HAVE A BIT OF A CLIP FROM ONE OF THOSE FOLKS.

THIS IS LIZ TIGER FROM SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SHE HAS CHRONIC PAIN AND OTHER CONDITIONS THAT RULE OUT OTHER COMMON PAIN RELIEF MEDICATIONS, HERE'S A BITE FROM HER ABOUT WHAT THIS DELAY WOULD MEAN FOR HER QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN USE FOR MY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY RIGHT NOW IS CBD AND IT WORKS INCREDIBLY WELL.

AND IT HELPS SOME OF MY PAIN, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE ME WHAT I NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A FULL AND NORMAL LIFE.

SO, DELAYING THIS MEANS IT'S ANOTHER 20 MONTHS WHERE I CAN LIVE A FULL LIFE WITH MY YOUNG KIDS AND I CAN'T DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.

>> AND SHE GOES ON TO SAY THAT'S -- EVEN IF IT'S 22 MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S TIME THAT NO ONE EVER GETS BACK IN THEIR LIVES.

I GUESS, MELISSA, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY KINDS OF EFFORTS THAT ASSUMING H.B.

1100 GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE END AND IS SIGNED INTO LAW, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY ADDITIONAL EFFORTS FROM LAWMAKERS TO PERHAPS DEKRALLIZE OR LESSEN SOME OF THE PERSONALITIES FOR FOLKS WHO MAY BE FOUND IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA IN THE MEANTIME?

SO FOLKS LIKE LIZ COULD MAYBE NOT WAIT SO LONG?

DECRIMINALIZE.

>> WE'VE HEARD DIFFERENT LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING AT PIECES OF LEGISLATION GOING FORWARD, BUT WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO CHALLENGE GOVERNOR NOEM TO KEEP HER PROMISE.

SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD NOT SIGN ANY MARIJUANA BILLS IF THEY CAME TO HER DESK THIS YEAR.

SO IF H.B.

1100 COMES TO HER DESK, IT TECHNICALLY IS A MARIJUANA BILL.

IT'S A MARIJUANA BILL THAT GIVES ACCESS TO PATIENTS, AND IF SHE'S GOING TO HOLD TIGHT TO HER WORD, THAT MEANS GOVERNOR NOEM NEEDS TO NOT SIGN H.B.

1100.

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN H.B.

1100 DROPPED LAST WEEK THAT THAT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE TO FOLKS LIKE YOU AND SOME OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN INITIATED MEASURE 26, IS THAT THE CASE?

>> IT IS.

THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT HAVE TOLD US FOR SIX YEARS TO TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT, GIVE IT A PUBLIC HEARING, LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT THIS LANGUAGE TO DELAY IT.

WE DID WHAT THEY ASKED AND NOW THEY'RE TAKING BACK THEIR WORD ON IMPLEMENTATION.

WE DID OUR PART.

IT'S TIME FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THEIR PART.

>> OUR LAST BITE THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PLAY IS FROM HOUSE SPEAKER SPENCER GOSCH, HIS KIND OF CLOSING COMMENTS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TOOK THEIR VOTE AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF TESTIMONY YESTERDAY.

RELATED TO A PARTICULAR LINE OF QUESTIONING, HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE IN THE END HAS ABOUT 40 DAYS TO RUN THROUGH HUNDREDS OF BILLS.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS.

AND HE HAD SOME REMAINING ISSUES LEFT WITH THE PROCESSES LAID OUT IN I.M.

26.

LET'S LISTEN TO SOME OF HIS CLOSING COMMENTS.

>> THE IDEA THAT WE AREN'T -- WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE I THINK IS VERY PREMATURE AND I THINK IT'S VERY INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE WE DO.

IN FACT, THIS BILL IS NOT REPEALING IT.

THIS BILL IS SIMPLY GIVING US TIME TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE IT.

AND THE OTHER PROBLEMS IN MY QUESTIONS, WHAT I FOUND IN JUST FOUR QUESTIONS, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS BILL TECHNICALLY LETS KIDS SMOKE MARIJUANA.

I KNOW IT WAS SAID, COMMON SENSE WON'T ALLOW IT, BUT COMMON SENSE DOESN'T LEGISLATE.

>> NOW, MELISSA, THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT WAS DIRECTED TO YOU DURING THE COMMITTEE.

TALK TO US, I GUESS, START OUT WITH, FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAMS WORK, WHAT KINDS OF PRODUCTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AND WHO MAKES THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A KID SMOKING MARIJUANA AT SOME POINT?

>> NO PHYSICIAN ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS RECOMMENDED SMOKEABLE PRODUCTS FOR CHILDREN.

TO THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY IS RIDICULOUS AND I'LL TAKE A NOTE FROM SPENCER'S OWN COMMENT.

COMMON SENSE DOESN'T LEGISLATE.

AND HE PROVED IT WITH SAYING THAT.

IF YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA SPENT MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OUT ON THE STREETS, POUNDING THE PAVEMENT TO GET THESE SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT SO THAT CHILDREN COULD SMOKE MARIJUANA, COMMON SENSE IS THROWN OUT THE WINDOW.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO USE SUCH A -- I WANT TO SAY EVASIVE EXCUSE TO NOT ALLOW ACCESS FOR PATIENTS IN THIS STATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, STATING THAT THERE'S NO TIME, AS OF YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR NOEM HAS SIGNED 66 BILLS INTO LAW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE.

THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH 66 BILLS ALREADY THAT SHE SIGNED INTO LAW AND ARE GOING INTO EFFECT JULY 1st.

BUT THIS ONE, THE ONE THAT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUT ON THE BALLOT AND PASSED BY 70%, THE PEOPLE SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR IN NOVEMBER.

THIS ONE BILL CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED, BUT 66 OTHER ONES HAVE ALREADY PASSED THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS AND ARE READY TO GO.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> ASSUMING THIS BILL, IT MOVES NEXT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, ASSUMING IT PASSES THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THEN GOES NEXT TO A SENATE COMMITTEE, I'M WONDER, BASED -- WONDERING, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY AND SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS YOU HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVES, I WONDER IF THERE'S ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU PLAN ON TAKING POTENTIALLY TO A SENATE COMMITTEE OR ANY OTHER POINTS OR BITS OF RESEARCH THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THOSE LAWMAKERS?

>> I THINK SIX YEARS INTO IT, WE'VE GIVEN THEM EVERY BIT OF RESEARCH THAT THEY COULD EVER READ.

WE'VE PROVIDED THEM WITH EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD EVER WANT TO LEARN ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

ALL WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS THE VERY BASIC JOB THAT WE ELECTED THEM TO DO AND THAT IS TO REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

AND IN SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS THAT SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE YESTERDAY, WE WERE A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE OF 80% OR HIGHER.

MORE PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA CARED ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACCESS THAN THEY DID ABOUT WHO WAS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I MEAN, I THINK WE REALLY HAVE SPOKEN.

AND WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO PASS A BILL.

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO IMPLEMENT THE BILL THAT WE, THE VOTERS, PASSED.

AND IT'S THE EASIEST THING THAT THEY WILL EVER DO AS A LEGISLATOR, THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR VOTERS WANT, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SUPPORT THAT.

>> MELISSA, WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE OUR VOTERS WITH ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT TO COME NEXT?

IN THIS JOURNEY.

>> WHAT I'LL LEAVE EVERYBODY WITH IS THIS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS AND SENATOR.

AND TELL THEM, THEY NEED TO VOTE WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

IT'S TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.

PATIENTS HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.

THE STORIES THAT WERE HEARD IN COMMITTEE YESTERDAY ARE HEARTBREAKING.

ONE WOMAN, HER CHILD PASSED AWAY, I SAY CHILD BECAUSE SHE WAS A MOTHER BUT HER SON WAS OF VOTING AGE AND HE DIED IN JULY BEFORE HE COULD EVER VOTE FOR THIS AND HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

DIED FROM A SEIZURE DISORDER.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND THEY NEED ACCESS AND THEY NEED HELP NOW AND THOSE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT.

AND IT'S TIME TO SUPPORT THEM.

AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT YOUR FAMILY, WRITE A LETTER FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAMILY.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR AND JUST RECOMMEND THAT THEY DO VOTE WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> MY GUEST HAS BEEN MELISSA MEANTELE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW APPROACH SOUTH DAKOTA.

DISCUSSING YESTERDAY'S COMMITTEE HEARING RELATED TO HOUSE BILL 1100.

MELISSA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHEN SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS APPROVED THE TWO MARIJUANA BALLOT MEASURES LAST FALL, THEY JOINED A GROWING NATIONAL TREND.

IN ALL, 30 -- 36 STATES HAVE LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS.

15 STATES HAVE ALSO LEGALIZED ADULT-USE, OR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

AND LAST FALL, SOUTH DAKOTA WAS ONE OF FIVE STATES TO APPROVE SOME KIND OF MARIJUANA MEASURE.

OUR NEXT GUEST WILL HELP US PUT OUR STATE'S JOURNEY INTO A NATIONAL CONTEXT.

EMMETT REISTROFFER IS FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT OF CROSSWINDS CANNABIS.

OVER THE PAST DECADE HE'S WORKED ON CANNABIS REFORM IN COLORADO, OREGON, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND NEVADA.

HE'S ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE VERY SAME HERE IN HIS HOME STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

EMMETT, WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S AN HONOR.

>> SO, EMMETT, BEFORE WE GET TO SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES WORKING IN ALL OF THOSE MANY DIFFERENT STATES, I WONDER IF YOU CAN JUST KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR VIEWPOINT ON THIS GROWING MOVE TO REVERSE THE PROHIBITION OF CANNABIS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHY THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THAT'S THE BEST QUESTION I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR.

BECAUSE I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

AND WHEN I STARTED ADVOCATING FOR THIS TEN YEARS AGO, I WAS REALLY AN OUTCAST OR A WILD CARD, AND I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TELL ME I'M CRAZY IF I'M GOING TO DEDICATE MY LIFE TO THIS.

BUT NOW FAST FORWARD TEN YEARS, THERE'S A NATIONAL SENTIMENT THAT PROHIBITION IS UNEQUIVOCALLY A FAILED POLICY IN EVERY WAY THAT YOU CAN MEASURE THE POLICY OF ARRESTING AND INCARCERATING PEOPLE FOR USING MARIJUANA, FOR MEDICAL OR FOR ADULT USE, IT'S A FAILED POLICY.

IT COSTS THE TAXPAYERS AND IT DESTROYS LIVES.

THIS IS WHY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH CANNABIS POLICY, THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS WILL BE A PRIORITY THIS YEAR.

I EXPECT TO SEE OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON FINALLY END CANNABIS PROHIBITION ON A NATIONAL LEVEL THIS YEAR.

AND IT GOES OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, D.C. YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN SO MANY STATES, I CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH IT.

THERE'S 15 STATES NOW THAT HAVE FULLY LEGALIZED CANNABIS, WHILE THERE'S 36 THAT HAVE EMBRACED SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL.

AND MIND YOU, SOME OF THESE STATES ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE, LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA.

MISSISSIPPI ALSO APPROVED MEDICAL CANNABIS IN THE SAME ELECTION.

FLORIDA, WHICH IS A STATE THAT SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT AND MISSOURI THAT SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT, BOTH HAVE ENACTED MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAMS AND FOR THE MOST PART, THEIR LOCAL LEADERS DIDN'T STAND IN THE WAY OF THE PEOPLE THERE.

THEY MOVED FORWARD AND PASSED THOSE LAWS AND THERE'S NOW HUNDREDS OF DISPENSARIES OPEN ACROSS FLORIDA, ACROSS MISSOURI, AND, LIKE I SAID, IT'S REALLY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PARTISAN ISSUE BY ANY MEANS.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, IF ANYONE WHO'S HAD A LOVED ONE WHO'S EXPERIENCED THE IMPACTS OF PROHIBITION AND JUST ANYBODY WHO LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF THIS POLICY AND APPLIES COMMON SENSE.

I REALLY IMPLORE THE GOVERNOR, IF SHE IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT PROHIBITION, PLEASE TELL SOUTH DAKOTANS, WHY IS IT A GOOD POLICY TO ARREST, ON AVERAGE, 3,500 SOUTH DAKOTANS EVERY YEAR FOR HAVING SMALL AMOUNTS OF CANNABIS, WHICH THEY COULD PURCHASE LEGALLY IN 15 OTHER STATES?

IT'S BAD POLICY HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND, SADLY, I THINK THERE'S JUST AN UNWILLINGNESS BY OUR LOCAL LEADERS TO KIND OF FOLLOW THE NATIONAL SENTIMENT OF RECOGNIZING THAT PROHIBITION HAS FAILED.

>> SO, A COUPLE OF THE STATES THAT YOU'VE WORKED IN ON CANNABIS POLICY IN THE PAST, COLORADO AND OREGON, PEOPLE PROBABLY EQUATE THOSE WITH FAIRLY EARLY ADOPTERS, TO COIN A PHRASE, IN CANNABIS REFORM.

I GUESS MAYBE TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR SENSE OF THE TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORM IN SOME OF THOSE STATES EARLY ON AND WHAT CONNECTIONS YOU MIGHT MAKE TO THIS CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING NOW IN SOUTH DAKOTA AS A FAIRLY LATE ADOPTER TO THIS KIND OF REFORM.

>> SURE.

I THINK THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS, LIKE YOU SAID, EARLY ON IN COLORADO WHERE I WORKED ON THIS, WE WERE THE FIRST STATE AT THAT TIME IN COLORADO TO END CANNABIS PROHIBITION.

SO THERE WAS A FAIRLY ROBUST PROCESS BEFORE AND AFTER THE ELECTION TO GET INTO THE DETAILS AND YOU COULD SAY IT EVOLVES EVERY YEAR.

STILL THIS YEAR COLORADO MAKES SOME LITTLE CHANGES HERE OR THERE.

I MEAN, THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED.

WE'RE STILL MAKING CHANGES TO VIDEO LOTTERY LAWS, TO ALCOHOL LAWS, TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.

IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO CHANGE.

NOW FAST FORWARD TEN YEARS WITH 36 STATES IMPLEMENTING MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAMS, THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS, THERE'S CONSULTING FIRMS, THERE'S JUST SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE DONE THIS, IT'S REALLY AN AWFUL EXCUSE TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT HERE.

THIS IS A WILLINGNESS ISSUE.

IT'S NOT A RESOURCES OR A TIMING ISSUE.

I REALLY FEEL THERE'S A LACK OF WILLINGNESS BY OUR LEADERSHIP TO REALLY ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND DO THE HARD WORK AND, REALLY, IT'S NOT EVEN THAT HARD OF WORK.

THEY JUST NEED TO DO THE WORK, THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, THEY NEED TO LET THESE MEASURES MOVE FORWARD.

IN COLORADO, I BELIEVE, WE HAD DISPENSARIES NOPE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER IT -- IN A ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THE BALLOT PASSED.

IN NEVADA, THEY HAD THEM OPEN IN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INITIATIVE PASSED.

SO THERE ARE EXAMPLES WHERE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT IS HAVE THE WILLINGNESS TO DO IT CAN DO IT FAIRLY QUICKLY.

THEY'LL HIRE EXPERT, THEY'LL BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

AND I THINK WE DO HAVE SMART PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR STATE DEPARTMENTS.

THEY'RE NOT THE ENEMIES ON THIS.

IT'S REALLY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE GETTING IN THE WAY.

>> I'VE HEARD THE QUESTION FROM FOLKS THAT MAYBE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS, THEY HAD A MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR A WHILE BEFORE THEY LEGALIZED ADULT USE.

SO MAYBE ALREADY HAVING THAT EXISTING MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SPED THAT PROCESS ALONG.

AND, SO, THEN THE QUESTION IS, IN A STATE LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA WITH NOTHING RIGHT NOW, MAYBE THAT'S A LONGER PROCESS.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF CREDIBILITY TO THAT LINE OF THINKING IN YOUR MIND?

>> WELL, LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DO RESPECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND THEIR ABILITY TO GET THE JOB DONE.

SURE, SOME OTHER STATES HAVE HAD ADVANTAGES TO MOVE QUICKER, BUT OTHER STATES HAVE ALSO HAD PRETTY BIG CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF THEM AS WELL.

LEGAL ISSUES TO WRESTLE THROUGH, BUDGET ISSUES, WHICH SOUTH DAKOTA, YOU KNOW, IS VERY PROUD TO EXPLAIN, OUR GOVERNOR IS, THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HEALTHY BUDGET HERE, IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

SO EACH STATE IS DIFFERENT.

I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY FAIR TO SAY THAT OTHER STATES HAD A HEAD START OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NO, IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THIS IS A SMALLER STATE, THEY HAVE EXPERTS RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE.

IN FACT, I'VE EXTENDED AN OFFER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LONG AGO TO OFFER, YOU KNOW, RULEMAKING ASSISTANCE OR WHATEVER BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PART OF THOSE PROCESSES IN OTHER STATES.

AND THIS IS WHY I SAY IT'S A WILLINGNESS ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THAT OFFER.

I WOULD REALLY BE SURPRISED IF I GET A SHOT TO BE ON THIS NEW WORK GROUP BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR HAS AN AGENDA HERE TO REPEAL INITIATED MEASURE 26.

I KNOW THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ABOUT DELAY, BUT I REALLY WANT TO REITERATE, DELAY IS CODE WORD FOR REPEAL.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY PUSH IT BACK, BUT THEY'RE PUSHING IT BACK TO MAKE TIME FOR A WORK GROUP TO ASSEMBLE AT THE WILL OF THE GOVERNOR AND ESSENTIALLY WRITE WHATEVER LAW THEY WANT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY IS THE NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW.

AND I DON'T TRUST THAT PROCESS IN THE SLIGHTEST.

WE KNOW GOVERNOR NOEM CAMPAIGNED AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

I HAVE A TON OF RESISTANCE IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT I RUN INTO, AND ULTIMATELY I WORRY HOW THE LAW'S GOING TO SHAPE UP.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING THE VOTERS DIDN'T APPROVE.

MELISSA, NEW APPROACH, HER GROUP, SPENT YEARS TALKING TO STAKEHOLDERS, LOOKING AT OTHER STATES, GETTING THE BEST PRACTICES PUT INTO LAW.

I.M.

26 IS VERY ROBUST, SO IS AMENDMENT A.

SO A ROAD MAP IS THERE.

IT'S JUST STILL A LACK OF WILLINGNESS.

I'M SORRY TO BE A BROKEN RECORD.

BUT THAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE HERE THAT I SEE.

IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

AND TO REMIND VIEWERS, YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IDEA ABOUT DELAY, THAT IS TO MAKE ROOM FOR THAT WORK GROUP OVER THE SUMMER, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS COMMITTEE WOULD COME UP WITH KIND OF RECOMMENDED BILLS, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WOULD THEN GO AGAIN THROUGH THE SAME LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES THROUGH COMMITTEES AND FLOOR DEBATES AND THINGS LIKE THIS TO EVENTUALLY GO BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

IN KIND OF OUR FINAL MOMENTS, EMMETT, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF INCARCERATION RELATED TO MARIJUANA IN THE COUNTRY AND THE LEVEL THAT WE SEE IN SOUTH DAKOTA WITH ITS FAIRLY STRICT MARIJUANA POLICIES COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

IN THE PLACES YOU'VE WORKED ON REFORM, WELL, SECRETARY MALSAM RYSDON, FOR INSTANCE, TALKED YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS CONCERN THAT MEDICAL MARIJUANA THEN GETS INTO THE WRONG HANDS, THAT IT WOULD ALMOST INCREASE ACCESS TO MARIJUANA FOR FOLKS WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE STARTED MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAMS, THAT THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASED AVAILABILITY TO KIDS OR WHOEVER ELSE DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED IT FOR MEDICAL REASONS?

>> NO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA THAT'S COMING OUT OF COLORADO, THE STATE THAT HAS THE MOST MATURE LEGAL MARIJUANA MARKET, THE STATE'S OWN REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE TO PUBLISH EVERY TWO YEARS ARE ACTUALLY SHOWING DRASTIC DECREASES IN TEENAGE MARIJUANA USE.

IT'S ALSO SHOWING DECREASES IN DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND TRAFFIC FATALITIES RELATED TO DRUG USE.

IT'S SEEING DECREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL-RELATED FATALITIES.

SO BY ALL MEASURES, I DO BELIEVE THAT A SYSTEM THAT TAXES AND REGULATES CANNABIS IS A FAR BETTER SYSTEM.

NO ONE WILL SAY IT'S PERFECT.

BUT IT'S FAR BETTER THAN THIS PROHIBITION POLICY THAT GOVERNOR NOEM IS HOLDING ONTO SO DEARLY.

ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT THE REPORTS IN COLORADO WILL COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT I HAVE, WHICH IS THAT LEGALIZATION IS WORKING.

NO, IT'S NOT PERFECT.

BUT IT'S WORKING.

IT'S KEEPING MARIJUANA OUT OF THE HANDS OF KIDS.

IT'S GETTING MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO PATIENTS WHO NEED IT.

AND IT HAS TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT BENEFITS THE TAXPAYERS.

SO I JUST WANT VIEWERS TO CONSIDER THAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE CANNABIS AND YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO TOUCH IT, SMELL IT, SEE IT, THAT'S OKAY.

YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS NEW SYSTEM THAT WE MOVE TOWARDS BECAUSE EVERY TAXPAYER IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR PUBLIC RESOURCES, THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT MAKING BETTER USE OF THEIR TIME RATHER THAN ARRESTING PEOPLE FOR SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.

POLICE CAN FOCUS ON MORE SERIOUS THINGS, AND WE CAN ACTUALLY GENERATE REVENUE OFF OF MARIJUANA INSTEAD OF LEAVING THAT MONEY IN THE HANDS OF THE BLACK MARKET.

SO, I THINK THIS POLICY DISCUSSION'S FASCINATING.

THAT'S WHY I'M A PART OF IT.

IT CROSSES INTO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS.

AND REALLY TOUCHES ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST REALLY CALLING ON OUR LAWMAKERS, IF I CAN JUST END ON A NOTE OF, THEY KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING IS TO DO.

THE VOTERS DEBATED THIS ISSUE AND THE VOTERS DECIDED THIS ISSUE.

THEY STILL HAVE TIME, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, NOT MUCH, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, WHICH IS TO STATUTORILY ENACT AMENDMENT A, OR ADULT-USE MARIJUANA.

THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS WANT.

THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATORS SHOULD DO AND THEY SHOULD PRIORITIZE THE PATIENTS THAT NEED MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

BUT, INSTEAD, WE'RE SEEING A LACK OF WILLINGNESS AND WE'RE SEEING OUR GOVERNOR GOING ON NATIONAL TV ADMONISHING BIG GOVERNMENT MANDATES, BUT RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA SHE WANTS TO MAINTAIN A BIG GOVERNMENT MANDATE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CANNABIS AS A WHOLE AND PREVENT THE VOTERS FROM GETTING WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR.

>> INTERESTING CONVERSATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE COULD GO ON FOR A WHILE ON THAT FRONT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU.

MY GUEST HAS BEEN EMMETT REISTROFFER, FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT OF CROSSWINDS CANNABIS.

EMMETT, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

MUCH APPRECIATED.

AGAIN, A HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTED TO DELAY IMPLEMENTING A VOTER-APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM UNTIL 2022 TO ALLOW TIME FOR FURTHER STUDY.

THAT BILL PASSED 10-3 AND MOVES NEXT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA MEASURE IS FACING ONGOING LITIGATION.

IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS SINCE SOUTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON RAVNSBORG STRUCK AND KILLED JASON BOEVER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 14 JUST WEST OF HIGHMORE.

THIS AFTERNOON HYDE COUNTY DEPUTY STATE'S ATTORNEY EMILY SOVELL ANNOUNCED THREE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES.

EACH CHARGE IS PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 30 DAYS IN JAIL.

HERE'S A SEGMENT OF TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE SOVELL OUTLINED HER REASONS FOR PREVIOUSLY DENYING REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.

THE REASONING BEHIND THE CHARGES, AND WHY THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT WARRANT A RECKLESS HOMICIDE OR MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.

>> BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH DISCLOSING THE CHARGING DECISIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST SPEAK TO THE LACK OF COMMENT THROUGHOUT THIS INVESTIGATION.

I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VERY DELIBERATE SEPARATION FROM OUR OFFICES AND ANY POLITICAL OFFICIALS, MEDIA, INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC, AND THE REASON IS TWO FOLD.

FIRST, I WANTED THERE TO BE NO ABILITY FOR ANY PERSON TO ASSERT THAT THERE WAS ANY POLITICAL INFLUENCE WHATSOEVER ON THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THESE CHARGES.

I CERTAINLY RESPECT THE PUBLIC'S THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE.

IT INVOLVED A HIGH-RANKING OFFICIAL IN THIS STATE.

BUT AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, INVESTIGATIONS ARE TYPICALLY NOT PUBLIC AS THEY DEVELOP.

AND I DID MY VERY BEST TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THIS INVESTIGATION THROUGHOUT.

S AND A VERY PRACTICAL MATTER, THE HYDE COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY OFFICE IS A PART-TIME OFFICE.

WE ARE TYPICALLY MANNED BY ONE TO TWO, SOMETIMES THREE PEOPLE.

AND THERE WAS A PLETHORA OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, FOR COMMENTS, FOR INTERVIEWS, AND, QUITE FRANKLY, HAD I TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN EVERY ONE OF THOSE, MY OFFICE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING ELSE DONE SINCE SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

SO HAD I PICKED ONE TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND MAKE COMMENT WITH, TWO, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF CONCERN OF FAVORITISM SO I SIMPLY WANT TO POINT OUT, IT WASN'T BECAUSE I MEANT ANY DISRESPECT TO THE PRESS.

IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF PRACTICAL REALITY THAT WE COULDN'T RESPOND TO EVERY INQUIRY.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO VERY BRIEFLY SPEAK TO THE TIMELINE IN THIS CASE.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTARY THAT SOMEHOW THIS WAS AN UNTIMELY INVESTIGATION.

I WOULD POINT OUT THAT FINAL EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE RETURNED TO OUR OFFICES EARLIER IN FEBRUARY.

I ORIGINALLY WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE FINAL INFORMATION BACK BY DECEMBER OF 2020.

THAT SIMPLY DID NOT HAPPEN.

REGARDLESS OF THAT, THIS JUST WAS NOT AN UNTIMELY INVESTIGATION.

LABORATORY REVIEW, TECHNICAL EVIDENCE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THEY TAKE TIME TO COME BACK.

AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN UNREALISTIC FOR OUR OFFICES TO EXPECT THIS TO CONCLUDE SIX MONTHS FROM THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT OR UP TO A YEAR.

THERE WAS NO DELAY BY THE NORTH DAKOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

THERE WAS NO DELAY BY THE RECONSTRUCTIONISTS THAT WERE INVOLVED.

THERE WAS NO DELAY BY THE PROSECUTORS.

IT WAS A SMART DECISION FOR PROSECUTORS TO AWAIT ALL OF THE EVIDENCE BEFORE WE CAME TO OUR FINAL DECISION IN THIS CASE.

I'M GOING TO LIMIT DISCUSSIONS ON THE EVIDENCE BECAUSE THIS IS STILL AN ACTIVE CASE.

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO FOR YOU ALL, I'LL RECAP SOME OF THE FACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED PUBLICLY.

I WILL THEN READ THROUGH THE CHARGING DOCUMENTS FOR YOU.

I WILL THEN DEFER TO Mr. MOORE IF HE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

AND HE WILL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH SOME STATEMENTS IF HE HAS THEM.

AND AT THE CONCLUSION, PLEASE RESPECT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DELVE DEEPLY INTO THE EVIDENCE OF THIS CASE.

AS YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY MADE AWARE, ON SEPTEMBER 12th, OF 2020, JASON RAVNSBORG WAS THE DRIVER OF A FORD TAURUS THAT STRUCK AND KILLED JOSEPH BOEVER OF HIGHMORE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

RAVNSBORG WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE FORD TAURUS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IT OCCURRED WITHIN HYDE COUNTY, JUST WEST OF HIGHMORE CITY LIMITS.

IT'S ALSO BEEN DISCLOSED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY THAT THAT IMPACT OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF THE LANE OF TRAVEL ON THE NORTH SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY 14.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S 911 CALL WAS MADE AT 10:24 ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION.

AND AFTER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE, A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO TOW RAFNS BORING'S VEHICLE.

DUE TO THE EXPECTED WAIT TIME OF THE TOW TRUCK HE WAS LOANED A COURTESY VEHICLE TO RETURN TO HIS HOME IN PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE MORNING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, RAVNSBORG RETURNED THE VEHICLE THAT IT-BORROWED TO HIM BY LAW ENFORCEMENT THE NIGHT PRIOR, IN THE PROCESS OF RETURNING THAT CAR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASSESSED THE AREA NEAR THE DEBRING WHERE THE -- -- DEBRIS WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED.

IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT HE LOCATED THE BODY OF WHO WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE Mr. JOSEPH BOEVER.

RAVNSBORG REPORTED HIS FINDINGS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO THEN WORKED TO SECURE THE SCENE AND CALLED FOR AN OUTSIDE AGENCY ASSIST.

BASED UPON RAVNSBORG'S POSITION AS OUR SOUTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE OUTSIDE AGENCY ASSIST FOR THE INVESTIGATION WAS MADE BY OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH, THE NORTH DAKOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

AND THAT AGENCY HEADED THIS INVESTIGATION THROUGHOUT.

ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY OUR LOCAL SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL AND BOTH AGENCIES HAVE CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER.

AND THE REPORTS HAVE BEEN NOW MADE AVAILABLE TO AND REVIEWED BY THE HYDE COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY.

AGAIN, DUE TO THE HIGH-PROFILE NATURE OF THIS CASE, FULL-TIME STATE'S ATTORNEY, MICHAEL MOORE, WHO'S WITH ME TODAY, OF HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA, AS WELL AS PENNINGTON COUNTY MARK VARGO HAVE GENERALLY SHARED THEIR TIME TO HELP REVIEW.

I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OBVIOUS ABSENCE OF MINNEHAHA STATE'S ATTORNEY CRYSTAL JOHNSON, WHO WAS ORIGINALLY ASSISTING AS WELL.

WHEN THEY HAVE THE TRANSITION OF OFFICE WITH MINNEHAHA COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEYS, THE NEW ADMINISTRATION NEEDED ALL HANDS ON DECK AND THAT IS AN EXTREMELY BUSY OFFICE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND REGARDLESS OF THAT TRANSITION, SHE PROVIDED A PLETHORA OF KNOWLEDGE.

SHE SHARED A LOT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK HER AND ALL OF THE ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEYS FOR THE SAME.

WITH THAT, I WILL READ TO YOU THE COMPLAINT AGAINST JASON R. RAVNSBORG.

IT STATES THAT ON OR ABOUT THE 12th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, IN 2020, HYDE COUNTY, STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, JASON R. RAVNSBORG DID COMMIT THE FOLLOWING OFFENSES.

COUNT ONE, OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE USING A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE IN VIOLATION OF 322647.1.

IN THAT, THE DEFENDANT DID OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE EAST OF HIGHMORE CITY LIMITS WHILE USING A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

COUNT TWO, LANE DRIVING IN VIOLATION OF SDCL 3226.6.

IN THAT THE DEFENDANT DID, WHILE DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A ROADWAY DIVIDED INTO TWO LANES, FAILED TO DRIVE SAID VEHICLE AS NEARLY AS PRACTICABLE ENTIRELY WITHIN A SINGLE LANE AND DID MOVE FROM SUCH LANE WITHOUT FIRST ASCERTAINING THAT SUCH MOVEMENT COULD BE MADE SAFELY.

COUNT THREE, CARELESS DRIVING.

IN THAT THE DEFENDANT DID DRIVE A VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT DUE CAUTION AT A SPEED OR IN A MANNER SO AS TO ENDANGER ANY PERSON OR PROPERTY.

ALL CONTRARY TO THE STATUTE IN SUCH CASE MADE AND PROVIDED AGAINST THE PEACE AND DIGNITY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

ALL THE CHARGES MISDEMEANOR CHARGES AND YOU WILL NOTE WHEN YOU REVIEW THIS PUBLICLY FILED DOCUMENT THAT Mr. RAVNSBORG IS CHARGED WITH OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE USING A MOBILE PHONE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

THAT OCCURRED EAST OF HIGHMORE CITY LIMITS AND AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, THE ACCIDENT IN QUESTION OCCURRED WEST OF HIGHMORE CITY LIMITS.

ALL EVIDENCE INDICATES TO US THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOT ON HIS PHONE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE EVIDENCE DOES INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT RAVNSBORG WAS OUTSIDE OF HIS LANE OF TRAVEL.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION, A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THERE WOULD BE SOME TYPE OF A HOMICIDE OR A MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE IN THIS CASE.

AND, DEPEND, I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO A LOT OF EVIDENCE FOR YOU, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS CLARIFY THOSE STATUTES.

FOR VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IT REQUIRES THAT ONE BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR SUBSTANCES IN A MANNER AND A DEGREE PROHIBITED BY LAW WITHOUT DESIGN TO EFFECT DEATH BUT THAT ULTIMATELY, AFTER NEGLIGENT ACTIONS, RESULTS IN THE DEATH OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

THAT'S SIMPLY NOT APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE.

THE TOXICOLOGY REPORTS WERE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DELAY IN THE BLOOD DRAW.

THERE WAS A VERY VERY THOROUGH INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED FOR EVERY STEP THAT WAS TAKEN BY HIM IN THE HOURS PRECEDING AND NOTHING WAS INDICATIVE OF HIM BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

WITH RESPECT TO SPECULATION ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.

I WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT IN SOUTH DAKOTA, SDCL 221620 STATES, ANY RECKLESS KILLING OF ONE HUMAN BEING, INCLUDING AN UNBORN CHILD BY THE ACT OR PROCUREMENT OF ANOTHER, WHICH UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER IS NEITHER MURDER NORMAN SLAUGHTER IN THE FIRST DEGREE, NOR EXCUSABLE, NOR JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE IS MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SECOND DEGREE.

THAT IS A CLASS FOUR FELONY.

THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC ARTICULATION OF WHAT RECKLESS MEANS WITHIN THE PROVISIONS OF THAT MANSLAUGHTER STATUTE.

THE STATE MUST IMPORT A CONSCIOUS AND UNJUSTIFIABLE DISREGARD OF A SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT THE OFFENDER'S CONDUCT MAY CAUSE A CERTAIN RESULT OR MAY BE OF A CERTAIN NATURE.

A PERSON IS RECKLESS WITH RESPECT TO CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN HE CONSCIOUSLY AND UNJUSTIFIABLY DESCRARDZ A SUBSTANTIAL RISK.

DISREGARDS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK.

OUR HIGH COURTS HAVE EXPLAINED THAT FOR SOMEONE'S CONDUCT TO BE DEEMED RECKLESS, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A MERE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE STANDARD.

OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF A LAW IS NOT IN AND OF ITSELF SUFFICIENT TO CONSTITUTE THE RECKLESSNESS REQUIRED FOR THAT MANSLAUGHTER STATUTE.

EVEN IF A PERSON IS KILLED AS A RESULT THEREOF.

>> THAT WAS HYDE COUNTY DEPUTY STATE'S ATTORNEY EMILY SOVELL EARLIER TODAY ANNOUNCING CHARGES AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON RAVNSBORG.

HE FACES ONE COUNT OF OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE USING A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ONE COUNT OF CARELESS DRIVING, AND ONE LANE DRIVING VIOLATION.

EACH CHARGE IS PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 30 DAYS IN JAIL.

A COURT DATE HASN'T YET BEEN SET.

JOE BOEVER'S WID HE OWE PLANS TO FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST RAVNSBORG.

WIDOW.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S PERSONAL SPOKESMAN SAYS RAVNSBORG DOES NOT PLAN TO RESIGN FROM HIS POSITION.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ON OUR SDPB YouTube CHANNEL.

LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM ANNOUNCED STATE REVENUES ARE EVEN HIGHER THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.

NOW IT'S UP TO LAWMAKERS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY.

STATE SENATOR REYNOLD NESIBA IS A MEMBER OF THE JOINT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

HE'S ALSO A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY IN SIOUX FALLS.

HE SHARES HIS PERSPECTIVE OF THE STATE'S FINANCIAL SITUATION WITH SDPB'S LEE STRUBINGER IN THIS WEEK'S PIERRE TO PEER.

♪ >> SENATOR NESIBA, THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

>> GREAT.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE, LEE.

ALWAYS AN HONOR.

>> I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

THE JOINT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MET LAST WEEK TO SET BUDGET PROJECTIONS.

LAST WEEK THE GOVERNOR ALSO SPOKE BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO TALK ABOUT EVEN FURTHER INCREASED REVENUES THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS SITTING IN TERMS OF BUDGET PROJECTIONS AND HOW THAT'S KIND OF PLAYING OUT RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT.

SO THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA HAS NEVER HAD SO MUCH, WHAT WE REFER TO AS ONE-TIME MONEY FOR US TO SPEND ON ONE-TIME PROJECTS.

SO NOT NECESSARILY ONGOING BUT ONE-TIME MONEY.

AND DO FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE PROCESS WE HAVE IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

WHAT WE DO, WE HEAR FROM THE BUREAU OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

THEY'VE THEIR ECONOMISTS COME IN AND TALK THROUGH SORT OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE THEY SEE THE ECONOMY GOING AND THEY GIVE THEIR REVENUE PROJECTION AND IT IS A FORWARD-LOOKING MODEL.

THEY RUN SOME REGRESSIONS, MAKE SOME PREDICTIONS ABOUT ALL OF THE CATEGORIES, MOST IMPORTANTLY, ABOUT WHERE OUR SALES TAX NUMBER IS GOING TO BE, WHERE OUR EXCISE TAX ON THE CONTRACTORS EXCISE IS GOING TO BE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE PERSON WHO IS OUR FISCAL ANALYST FROM THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL USES A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MODEL.

HIS IS A BACKWARD-LOOKING MODEL.

REFERRED TO AS HOLT WINTER MODEL.

THAT REALLY LOOKS AT HOW CLOSE THE DATA FITS HIS MODEL AND THEN WE COMPARE THOSE TWO AND THEN WE HAVE A SUBGROUP THAT GETS TOGETHER AND SORT OF NEGOTIATES, TRYING TO MAKE ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHICH NUMBER WE THINK IS BETTER FROM EACH OF THOSE AND WE COME UP WITH A NUMBER.

IN THIS CASE, THIS YEAR I THINK BOTH OF THE NUMBERS WE CAME UP WITH WERE REALLY CONSERVATIVE.

SO THE NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBER FROM BLM AND NRLC WAS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN BOTH OF THEIR NUMBERS AND THEN IN 2022, WE PICKED A NUMBER THAT WAS ACTUALLY $23 MILLION LESS THAN THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S JUST OVERLY PESSIMISTIC.

I THINK THAT IN 2022, WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN REVENUE AND THAT THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF POLITICS TO SIMPLY TAMP DOWN OUR ESTIMATE.

AND I THINK THAT OUR JOB AS AN APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SHOULD BE TO TRY AND PICK THE MOST ACCURATE NUMBER, BUT, INSTEAD, WHAT WE DID IS WE PICKED A NUMBER THAT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE 2021 NUMBER.

>> LAST WEEK I HAD A CHANCE TO ASK THE GOVERNOR ABOUT WHERE HER OFFICE, THE BUREAU OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT, WAS COMING FROM IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS THAT THEY WERE BRINGING.

AND I'D LIKE TO PLAY THE CLIP FROM LAST WEEK'S PRESS CONFERENCE REAL QUICK.

>> SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOUR OFFICE SEES SORT OF THE STATE BUDGET PLAYING OUT IN YEARS TO COME AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE HOW THE LRC IS SEEING IT AS IT'S BEING SET?

>> WELL, I CAN SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO REVENUE NUMBERS.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE INCREASED REVENUE THAT IS COMING IN AND YOU'RE SEEING SOME DEBATE OVER APPROPRIATION BILLS AND WHERE THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD BE SPENT.

IN COMING YEARS, I EXPECT OUR BUDGET TO GET TIGHTER.

WE ARE SEEING HISTORIC LEVELS OF MONEY COME IN TO THE STATE RIGHT NOW THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.

THROUGH SOME STIMULUS MONEY THAT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ALSO FROM INCREASED VISITATION TO OUR STATE AND FROM PEOPLE BEING OUT THERE STARTING BUSINESSES AND DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUILDING PROJECTS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT IT IS SPECIFICALLY TIED TO THE FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS WOULD PROBABLY BE INACCURATE BECAUSE THEN EVERY SINGLE STATE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT RECEIVED FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS SHOULD BE SEEING A SURPLUS AS WELL.

I THINK THAT THE WAY WE'VE APPROACHED THE PANDEMIC AND THE WAY WE'VE ALLOWED BUSINESSES TO OPERATE AND FAMILIES TO OPERATE HAS RESONATED WITH FOLKS AND THEY'VE CHOSEN TO COME HERE AND VISIT AND INVEST MONEY AND OUR ECONOMY IS BENEFITTING FROM THAT.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT IN THE NEXT -- BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH IN OUR REVENUE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE.

I THINK WE'LL STILL HAVE A STRONG ECONOMY, BUT WE NEED TO BE PRUDENT AND SMART AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND KNOW THAT THOSE REVENUES WILL MORE THAN LIKELY DECLINE.

AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE MONEY IN RESERVES TODAY THAN COME BACK TWO TO THREE YEARS FROM NOW AND BE ASKING EVERYONE FOR SPENDING CUTS.

I KNOW ONCE YOU INVEST MONEY INTO PROGRAMS, PEOPLE HATE TO SEE THAT REDUCED IN THE FUTURE , AND IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

>> SO, SENATOR NESIBA, I WAS WONDERING, BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST HEARD THERE, WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE YOU HAVE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAIN REASON THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH ONE-TIME MONEY WAS REALLY A RESULT OF FEDERAL POLICY.

WE HAD DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM THE TREASURY THAT WERE A BENEFIT TO THE STATE.

WE SAW FARM COMMODITY PAYMENTS TO PRODUCERS.

WE SAW THE ENHANCED $600 PER WEEK FOR THOSE ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD THIS CARES ACT SPENDING OF $1.25 BILLION, WHICH WAS THREE OR FOUR TIMES MORE PER PERSON THAN IN MANY OTHER STATES, LIKE, SAY, MINNESOTA.

AND, SO,ONE OF THE REASONS THAT OUR ECONOMY DID AS WELL AS IT DID IS BECAUSE OF THAT INJECTION OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 3 AND $4 BILLION WORTH OF SPENDING.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M OPTIMISTIC LOOKING FORWARD TO 2022, THAT RIGHT NOW GOING THROUGH CONGRESS IS A PROPOSED $1.9 TRILLION STIMULUS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS, I THINK, LIKELY TO PASS.

AND, SO, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE ANOTHER INJECTION INTO OUR ECONOMY.

I THINK WE SHOULD JUST SIMPLY ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOUTH DAKOTA IS A HUGE BENEFICIARY AND EVEN IN A TYPICAL YEAR, WE GET MORE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN WE RAISE IN OUR OWN SOURCE REVENUE WHEN WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR $5 BILLION BUDGET.

>> AS WE HEAD OUT OF FISCAL YEAR '21, WHICH IS IN JULY, AND HEAD INTO FISCAL YEAR '22, WHAT MAKES YOU SO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE POSITION OF THE STATE?

>> RIGHT.

AND TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE IN A FISCAL YEAR, SO THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2021 BUDGET, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET YEAR THAT'S GOING TO END JUNE 30th.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2022 BUDGET, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT BEGINS JULY 1st OF THIS YEAR AND WILL END JUNE 30th OF 2022.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS FOR OPTIMISM.

ONE IS THE HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A SIGNIFICANT STIMULUS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE SECOND THING IS SIMPLY HAVING VACCINES ROLLING OUT.

BY THIS FALL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL SAFER ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET IN THEIR CAR AND GO ON A VACATION OR STAY IN A HOTEL, GO OUT TO A RESTAURANT OR A BAR, GO SEE A CONCERT AGAIN.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PENT-UP DEMAND.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A MOVIE THEATER FOR OVER A YEAR AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE MOVIES OR TO BE ABLE TO SEE A PLAY IN PERSON.

AND I THINK THAT -- I DON'T THINK I'M ALONE IN THAT.

>> I'M SURE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS AND MORE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SO EVERYBODY, STAY TUNED.

STATE SENATOR NESIBA OF SIOUX FALLS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME ON PIERRE TO PEER.

>> ALWAYS AN HONOR LEE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'LL SEE YOU IN THE CAPITOL.

♪ >> THANKS, LEE.

YOU CAN SEE THE FULL DISCUSSION WITH SENATOR NESIBA ONLINE ON THE SDPB NEWS YouTube CHANNEL.

IN SOME OTHER NEWS HEADLINES WE'RE FOLLOWING TONIGHT.

A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HAS KILLED A BILL TO DISCLOSE SAFETY AND SECURITY COSTS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

PROPONENTS SAY IT WOULD HAVE INCREASED TRANSPARENCY ABOUT GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE.

THE SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL PROVIDES SECURITY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY CRAIG PRICE SAYS DISCLOSING FINANCIAL INFORMATION WOULD COMPROMISE SECURITY PLANS.

>> SECURITY IS MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN THE PERPETRATOR KNOWS LESS.

SECURITY ISN'T KEPT IN MIND FOR THE 99 PLUS PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAS NO INTENTION OF CAUSING HARM.

WE HAVE TO PLAN SECURITY FOR THE VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE AN INTENTION OF CAUSING PROBLEMS.

>> THE COMMITTEE USED A PROCEDURAL MOVE TO EFFECTIVELY KILL THE BILL.

A SIMILAR MEASURE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ALSO FAILED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

A HOUSE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL TO BAN ABORTIONS BASED ON A DOWN SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS.

GOVERNOR NOEM ANNOUNCED PLANS TO INTRODUCE THE BILL DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THE COMMITTEE HEARD PROPONENTS TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

TESTIFIERS WERE BOTH FROM SOUTH DAKOTA AND OUT OF STATE.

THERE WAS NO OPPOSING TESTIMONY.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS SUCH PROCEDURES ARE RARE IN THE STATE.

ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT DATA FROM 2019, MORE THAN 97% OF PATIENTS WHO HAD AN ABORTION DID SO WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF ANY FETAL ANOMALIES.

AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATED REMOTELY THIS WEEK AFTER AN EIGHTH MEMBER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 OVER THE WEEKEND.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMIE SMITH SAYS LEADERSHIP TOLD MEMBERS THEY SHOULD ALL CONSIDER THEMSELVES CLOSE CONTACTS.

LAWMAKERS HAVE PERMITTED REMOTE TESTIMONY FOR COMMITTEE HEARINGS DURING SESSION.

MASKS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED IN THE HOUSE AND REQUIRED IN THE SENATE.

THE NOEM ADMINISTRATION WANTS MONEY FOR A BISON INTERPRETIVE CENTER AT CUSTER STATE PARK.

IT WOULD CONTINUE A STATE EFFORT TO MANAGE AND PROMOTE THE PARK'S BISON HERD.

SDPB'S SETH TUPPER GIVES US SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THIS WEEK'S INSTATUTE IN OUR SERIES "WHY IS THAT?"

♪ >> MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, SOUTH DAKOTA BOUGHT 36 BISON FROM A RANCHER NAMED SCOTTY PHILIP.

THE THREE DOZEN ANIMALS WERE TAKEN TO WHAT IS NOW CUSTER STATE PARK.

KOBEE STALDER IS THE VISITOR SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE PARK.

STALDER SAYS THOSE FIRST BISON LIKED THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

>> THE BISON BASICALLY FLOURISHED IN OUR PARK WITH THE NATIVE GRASSES, AND SO THEY REPRODUCED REALLY QUICKLY AND HERD MANAGERS DIDN'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THAT YET.

>> SO THEY DECIDED TO DO ROUNDUPS.

>> THAT MIGHT BE EVERY FIVE YEARS, EVERY TWO YEARS.

IT JUST REALLY DEPENDED.

THEN AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO AUCTIONS.

WHAT WE HAD IN CUSTER STATE PARK WAS ACTUALLY A MEAT PACKING PLANT.

WE ACTUALLY TOOK THE EXCESS BUFFALO THAT WE HAD AND WE PUT THEM INTO THE MEAT TRADE.

>> THE ROUNDUPS BECAME AN ANNUAL TRADITION IN THE 1960S.

AND PARK MANAGERS DECIDED TO SELL THE EXTRA ANIMALS INSTEAD OF SLAUGHTERING THEM.

OVER THE YEARS THE ROUNDUP AND AUCTION GREW IN POPULARITY, BECOMING THE SPECTACLE IT IS TODAY.

ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP EVERY SEPTEMBER TO WATCH RIDERS HERD BISON INTO CORRALS.

STALDER SAYS IT'S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

>> YOU'RE ALMOST TRANSPORTED BACK INTO THE OLD WEST WHEN YOU SEE THIS EVENT.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU SEE 1400 BUFFALO COMING UP OVER A HILL RIGHT AT YOU, I MEAN, YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN YOUR LIFE, AND IT REALLY TAKES YOU BACK AND GIVES YOU GLIMPSES OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE THAT WHEN THERE WAS 30 TO 60 MILLION BISON ROAMING THE PRAIRIES OF NORTH AMERICA.

>> ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT CUSTER STATE PARK EVERY YEAR, AND THE BISON ARE ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS.

ONE OF THE VISITORS LAST SUMMER WAS WALTER PANZIRER, A TRUSTEE FROM THE HELMSLEY TRUST.

HIS STORY IS AS FASCINATING AS THE PARK'S.

ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, PANZIRER WAS A POLICE OFFICER IN MITCHELL.

THEN HIS GRANDMOTHER DIED.

SHE WAS THE BILLIONAIRE EAST COAST DEVELOPER LEONA HELMSLEY.

SHE LEFT HIM A LARGE SUM OF MONEY AND MADE HIM A TRUSTEE OF THE CHARITY CREATED TO SPEND HER WEALTH.

SINCE THEN, PANZIRER HAS DIRECTED SOME OF THE TRUST'S MONEY TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

LAST SUMMER, HE WAS IN CUSTER STATE PARK WITH HIS FAMILY.

SCOTT SIMPSON OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH & PARKS, TOLD THE REST OF THE STORY RECENTLY TO A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

>> AND HE WAS OUT WORKING IN THE PARK WITH HIS FAMILY, HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, ON AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.

AND THEY WERE WORKING DOWN AT THE BUFFALO CORRALS ACTUALLY PAINTING SOME OF THE CORRALS, AND AS THEY WERE WORKING THROUGHOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS DOWN THERE, MR. PANZIRER ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE ALL THESE BUSES STOPPING FOR?

WHAT ARE THESE CARS STOPPING FOR?

AND THEY SEEMED TO BE STOPPING AND KIND OF JUMPING OUT AND NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.

>> PARK STAFF SAID THE TOURISTS WERE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE BISON HERD AND THE ROUNDUP.

BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO SEE.

>> AND HE SAID, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUT WITH THAT?

>> THE STAFF SAID INTERPRETIVE MATERIAL AND SIGNS WOULD COST 15 OR $20,000.

>> AND WALTER SAID, 'NO, I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO THINK A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THAT.'

AND SO THEY SAID, 'WELL, HOW BIG ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?'

AND HE POINTED UP TOWARDS THE EAST GATE AND SAID, 'SOMETHING THE SIZE OF THAT VISITOR CENTER.'

>> THAT'S HOW THE PLAN FOR THE BISON INTERPRETIVE CENTER WAS BORN.

LAST FALL, PANZIRER MADE A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE ROUNDUP.

HE SAID THE TRUST WOULD DONATE $4 MILLION TO BUILD AN INTERPRETIVE CENTER.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE UPGRADES - PICNIC FACILITIES AND AN INTERPRETIVE CENTER TO TELL THE TRUE STORY OF THE BUFFALO HERE.

TELL WHY WE ARE VACCINATING BUFFALOES, WHY THE PARK MANAGES THE HERDS TO SUCH PRISTINE LEVELS AS THEY DO NOW, AND REALLY LAY OUT THE HISTORY THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIVE GENETIC LINES THAT SAVED THE BUFFALO IN THE UNITED STATES.

[ Applause ] >> PANZIRER AND HIS FAMILY ARE DONATING ANOTHER $100,000.

THE SOUTH DAKOTA PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION WANTS TO RAISE $400,000.

AND GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM IS ASKING LAWMAKERS FOR THE FINAL HALF-MILLION TO PAY FOR THE $5 MILLION PROJECT.

GOVERNOR NOEM KICKED OFF THE FUNDRAISING THE DAY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> SO THAT'S WHY WE INVITED YOU ALL HERE TODAY.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A SHOW OF HANDS.

WHO GIVES THE NEXT 100,000?

[ Laughter ] THE LEGISLATURE IS CONSIDERING A BILL TO COMMIT $500,000 IN STATE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.

PARK OFFICIALS HOPE TO OPEN THE CENTER IN THE SPRING OF 2022.

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M SETH TUPPER.

♪ >> THANKS, SETH.

WE'RE OFF FOR A COUPLE WEEKS.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN ON MARCH 25th.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL OR FIND ME ON TWITTER AT JACKIE HENDRY SD.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JACKIE HENDRY, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪