During Tuesday's election, South Dakotans rejected another attempt to legalize recreational marijuana. A similar measure was rejected by South Dakotans in 2022.

In Brookings County, 53% of voters were opposed to legalization — 7,968 no votes to 6,978 yes votes.

Initiated Measure 29 would have made possession, cultivation, ingestion, and distribution of up to two ounces of marijuana legal for South Dakotans 21 or older.

The measure’s downfall was predicted late last month when a statewide poll found 51% of respondents were opposed to legalization with 5% undecided. That poll was conducted Oct. 12-16 and surveyed 500 registered South Dakota voters. It was co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota

Tuesday night, voters in both North Dakota and Florida also rejected recreational marijuana measures. Nebraska voters however passed two marijuana measures — one repealing penalties against medicinal marijuana and another legalizing possession of up to five ounces for qualifying patients.

South Dakota voters made medical marijuana legal in 2020. That same year, a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana also passed with 54% support. However it was challenged in court for not being a single-subject amendment — and on that basis, the state Supreme Court overturned it on a 4-1 vote.

Currently, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana use. Medicinal marijuana is legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia.

Email Jay Roe at jroe@brookingsregister.com.