shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com November 12, 2019 • Page 7 South Dakota Groups Submit Petitions To Qualify Marijuana Reform Ballot Initiatives For The 2020 Election PIERRE, S.D. — Marijuana reform groups submitted petitions Nov. 4 containing over 80,000 signatures to the South Dakota Secretary of State in order to qualify two separate marijuana reform ballot initiatives for next year’s election. One initiative would establish a medical marijuana program for qualified patients with debilitating health conditions, while the other would legalize marijuana for adults aged 21 and older and require the state legislature to enact a hemp cultivation law. “We are proud to have submitted petitions on behalf of over 80,000 South Dakotans who believe that voters should decide our state’s marijuana and hemp laws,” said Brendan Johnson, a former United States Attorney who is the sponsor of the legalization ballot initiative. New Approach South Dakota submitted over 30,000 signatures for a statutory ballot initiative that would enact a medical marijuana law for patients with debilitating medical conditions. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws submitted over 50,000 signatures for a constitutional ballot initiative that would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults aged 21 and older and would also Governor Noem Recognizes Registered Apprenticeship Week In South Dakota PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has who are forced to break the law in proclaimed Nov. 11-17 as order to access effective medical Registered Apprenticeship treatments that allow them to live healthier and more productive lives, Week in South Dakota. “Apprenticeships and that is unacceptable,” said Marihelp bridge the skills gap juana Policy Project Deputy Director Matthew Schweich, who has worked and equip folks with the tools they need to work on successful marijuana reform ballot initiative campaigns in Maine, high-paying, in-demand Massachusetts, Michigan, and Utah. jobs right here in South Dakota,” said Noem. “It’s Eleven states have legalized marijuana for adults, and another 22 important we highlight the value of apprenticestates have enacted medical mariship opportunities, and juana laws. South Dakota would be the first state to enact both policies I’m hopeful this week will make more people aware on a single ballot. of the ways an apprentice“Across the country, voters are recognizing that it makes no sense to ship could open new doors waste law enforcement resources on for them.” Over the past three arresting adults for marijuana posyears, the Department session, and that it also makes no of Labor and Regulation sense to force marijuana sales into (DLR) has received $1.6 an unregulated illicit market,” said million in apprenticeship Schweich. “Simply put, legalizing, grant funding. It has proregulating, and taxing marijuana is the policy decision that best serves vided incentive funding to businesses to help offset the interests of public health and the initial start-up costs public safety.” when developing a new Visit the South Dakotans for program. Better Marijuana Laws website for “This program has more information about the ballot been successful because initiatives, including the complete employers provide their initiative texts. own innovative solutions, resulting in a higher-skilled workforce,” said Noem. “We’ll continue working to bolster our work-based learning programs and require the legislature to enact laws regulating the cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp. The minimum number of signatures required for ballot qualification is 16,961 for a statutory initiative and 33,921 for a constitutional initiative. Today was the deadline for submitting signatures, and the South Dakota Secretary of State will now begin verifying the validity of the signatures. “For many years, we have asked the legislature to address the issue of medical marijuana,” said Melissa Mentele, director of New Approach South Dakota and sponsor of the medical marijuana ballot initiative. “Despite the fact that a strong majority of South Dakotans support allowing legal, regulated, and safe access to medical marijuana for patients with debilitating conditions, elected officials have failed to take action. Patients cannot afford to wait any longer, and this ballot initiative is our only recourse.” Two of the leading national marijuana policy reform organizations, the Marijuana Policy Project and New Approach PAC, are supporting the South Dakota campaigns. “Right now, there are South Dakotans with serious health conditions State’s REAL ID System Meets Federal Requirement South Dakota is now more than 99 percent compliant in its efforts to meet the federal government’s enforcement deadline of the Real ID license regulations next year. The federal Real ID Act established minimum security standards for license issuance and production. The act prohibits federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet the minimum standards. The purposes covered by the act include accessing federal facilities and boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft. While many states are working to reach the federal compliance deadline of Oct. 1, 2020, South Dakota began issuing Real ID compliant licenses and identification cards on Dec. 31, 2009. As of mid-October 2019, the state had issued more than 676,000 Real ID compliant driver licenses and more than 62,000 Real ID compliant identification cards. “The early work by the state Driver Licensing program to meet the deadline means that all eligible South Dakotans, with only a few exceptions, already have been issued a Real ID compliant license or card,” says Gov. Kristi Noem. “The deadline will have no impact on those with a Real ID license or card issued in South Dakota. Our Driver Licensing program staff has done good work to ensure the state is compliant.” A Real ID compliant card has a gold star or star within a circle in the upper right hand corner. Both cards will be accepted for proof of identity to board a flight within the United States. Jane Schrank, director of the state Driver Licensing Program, said making the state compliant with Real ID regulations has been a priority for the program. “This compliance is a tribute to work done by our driver license examiners every day at exam stations statewide,” Schrank said. “This high level of compliance speaks to the employees’ high quality standards, strong customer service and efforts to keep South Dakotans safe.” For more information on how to apply for or renew a South Dakota driver license or identification card, click onto: https://dps.sd.gov/driverlicensing. The state driver licensing program is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety. When it’s time to deliver... The Classifieds Rock! Shopper MV MV Shopper MOTORS TYNDALL M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y In Print & Online! • 665-5884 expand career opportunities.” Results from the incentive funding include 17 new programs, 300 new apprentices, and an increase of 15 percent in the number of female apprentices. “Our vision is to provide South Dakota businesses with a proactive strategy to engage individuals in their communities, improve skill sets, and meet workforce needs,” said state Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman. DLR is currently accepting applications to award four contracts up to $50,000 each for the Pathway Partnership Initiative to build high-quality youth apprenticeship programs. Awardees will receive technical assistance from DLR and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. View RFP #1808 at http://bit.ly/pathway_partnership. To learn more about how to be an apprentice or business sponsor, or to find student opportunities, visit StartTodaySD.com. 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 www.missourivalleyshopper.com Noem Proclaims November As Adoption Awareness Month PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed November as Adoption Awareness Month. “Family is more about what’s in your heart than your blood stream,” said Noem. “Adoption has had an incredible impact on my family... It’s beautiful. It’s a miracle. It’s lifechanging. Children cannot be successful unless they are supported and surrounded by people who love them, so this month, I’d like to encourage South Dakotans to learn more about adoption. I want November to reflect the ways South Dakotans work to create strong families – especially when they come through foster care or adoption.” As part of Adoption Month, Noem has encouraged families to record short videos about their adoption experience and share them on social media using the hashtag #SDAdoptionMonth. “If your family has been touched by adoption, I encourage you to share your story. Your journey could inspire others to open their hearts and homes to children in need,” Noem continued. Laurie Gill, South Dakota Secretary of Social Services, said that older youth and sibling groups have a particularly high need for adoptive homes. “One of our focuses this month at the Department of Social Services is highlighting the need for adoptive families for teenagers and older youth,” said Gill. “It’s incredibly important for older kids to be connected to a family that can provide stability during important chapters of life like going to college or finding a first job. You never outgrow the need for a family.” Private adoption agencies also place children for adoption in South Dakota. A private agency may assist a birth parent in creating an adoption plan for younger children or infants. To learn more about adopting a child, contact the Department of Social Services or one of the private licensed child placement agencies located throughout the state. For more information about adoption and foster care through DSS, visit fosterone.sd.gov ordss.sd.gov/childprotection. A list of agencies can be found here. 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