Nov. 6 (UPI) — Voters in South Dakota and North Dakota rejected a ballot measure meant to legalize recreational marijuana.
As election results continued to come in on Wednesday morning, CNN , NBC News and South Dakota news station KELOLand News reported that South Dakota’s Measure 29 and North Dakota’s Initiated Measure 5 failed.
Measure 29 is a ballot measure to legalize the possession, growing and distribution of marijuana for recreational purposes.
“No” votes held a 56% edge as of 12:30 p.m. EST, according to South Dakota’s official election results site. Of the 393,387 votes counted, 270,331 opposed the measure.
Voters passed an amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in 2020, but it was challenged by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem. The governor won her case in the state supreme court, overriding the decision by voters.
North Dakota’s ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana use failed, making it the third time an attempt to legalize marijuana has failed in the state in the last six years.