The South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) has told Governor Kristi Noem to “quit spreading lies” about industrial hemp and start focusing on the benefits it will bring her state.
South Dakota is one of 4 remaining hemp holdout states – i.e. it hasn’t enacted legislation legalising the crop. It’s not through want of trying, but Governor Noem really doesn’t seem to like industrial hemp and has had the crop increasingly in her crosshairs since landing in the state’s top job.
Back in March this year, the Governor vetoed House Bill 1191 that would have allowed industrial hemp to be grown and processed in the state. She has also submitted 315 questions concerning hemp to the state’s lawmakers – and has hinted to it being “product that has serious implications on the health and safety of the next generation.”
In very recent times, she has published articles on the topic in mainstream media, first on the Argus Leader. Now Governor Noem has taken her message to a much larger audience via the Wall Street Journal, explaining why she won’t support legalizing industrial hemp in her state.
The governor has warned if a measure to legalize industrial hemp hits her desk again this year, she will veto it again. There was also this interesting claim repeated:
“Until law enforcement can quickly and affordably differentiate between marijuana and hemp, states that have legalized hemp have essentially legalized marijuana as well,” writes Governor Noem.
She says “until the law can tell the difference between it and weed, the answer is ‘no.’”
It could be a very long 3+ years for hemp supporters in the state and the South Dakota Democratic Party has had enough.
“South Dakota farmers are still suffering from disastrous policies supported by Kristi Noem when she was a member of Congress,” says a statement from SDDP chair Paula Hawks. “Now that she’s Governor, Noem is doubling down her attacks on the ag community by outlawing a desperately needed crop that could help many farmers rebound from the effects of the President’s catastrophic trade wars.”
The SDDP has called on the Governor to:
“..quit spreading lies about legalized hemp and instead focus on delivering a factual report on how the crop could benefit our state’s farmers.”
