UPDATE: There was some more debunking last night of what the mayor said;

TenHaken isn’t sold on the idea that revenues from marijuana legalization are a tremendous boon to a community.

“Any revenue that is realized is used to deal with the unintended consequences, treatment issues, crime issues, that result as a result of legalization,” TenHaken said.

Shweich argues against that.

“If it were the case that in any of these legalization states that the cost of the policy was greater than the revenue then why haven’t we seen any state repeal this policy?” Schweich said.

In fact, both Lincoln and Minnehaha County along with the City of Sioux Falls and neighboring towns could see millions in tax revenue that could be directed at education, roads and criminal justice.

There was a lot of bull being thrown at the public safety presser yesterday.

VIDEO LINK

Besides Sheriff Milstead rants about the Southern border and immigrants they started attacking IM 27 claiming that cannabis legalization would lead to more violence, hurt children and families. Alcohol, Meth, Opioids, Poverty (low wage jobs) and Video Lottery do a pretty good job of that already.

But none of that was mentioned – only the evil weed.

“Individuals go to purchase marijuana, and they get drug-ripped,” Milstead said. “And, so, that’s why some of the people buying marijuana are carrying guns, and that’s why some people are selling marijuana are carrying guns. And, so, there’s a lot of black market marijuana dealings that go on in our community, and some of them result in violence. Some of them result with individuals joining gangs, and, so, I certainly would keep marijuana in that top three of what drugs we’re encountering and dealing with on a regular basis, sometimes with people that are armed and posing a danger to our community.”

They claimed the black market would thrive if Rec MJ became legal. Sure. Just like it is now. It would only be legal to purchase by those who are 21 and older, so yes, teenagers are going to have to find an illegal way to use, just like they have been doing for decades with alcohol and tobacco. The crimes committed because of the illegal trade of MJ are already here, they won’t suddenly disappear if Rec passes.

And whose job is it to stop the black market drug sales? The very people who want to blame a boogey man from Mexico with a truckload of pot and illegal guns, our Police and Sheriff Departments.

It was disappointing that they offered NO solutions to the current illicit drug problems we already have.

The reporter, John Gaskins, who wrote the DNN article asked Milstead at the press conference that he mentioned drug dealers and criminals stealing guns out of unlocked cars and wondered if Milstead would support fining people whose guns are stolen and used in crimes. Milstead said that was up to the legislature (passing the buck once again) and said he would not be inclined to punish LEGAL gun owners. But when a legal vehicle owner does something irresponsible with their vehicle they get a fine.

In fact, since our Legislature and Governor signed an open carry law in our state, gun violence has skyrocketed in Sioux Falls. Not sure if there is a correlation, but it is hardly a coincidence.

When it comes to the black market drug trade and the violence associated with it in our state, our police and deputies could take a multi-faceted approach to prevention, but instead they decided to focus on a country that doesn’t border our state and a drug that no one has ever overdosed on. They also failed to mention that legal MJ sales could be taxed very heavily and assist law enforcement with funding to prevent violence and illegal drug trade. Milstead made a claim that taxation would not offset the legal issues with Rec MJ, that claim, about Colorado Springs was debunked by DNN;

In July 2022, Suthers told a Colorado TV station that he’s “vehemently opposed” to recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs. Suthers’ office did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

“When we legalized recreational marijuana in the state, I remember the promises,” Suthers told the station. “Number one: there’ll be all kinds of money for schools, roads, all that kind of stuff. But all the money we’ve taken in barely pays for the regulation of marijuana and it doesn’t pay for the social problems.”

In response to this, Anthony Carlson, a campaign manager for Your Choice Colorado Springs, told The Center Square — an American conservative news website that features reporting on state and local government — that Suthers “is sticking his head in the sand and talking as if adult-use recreational cannabis isn’t already 100% legal to possess and consume in Colorado Springs. Right now, people are traveling to nearby communities, purchasing their cannabis, and bringing it right back home to use.”

“Recreational cannabis is already here, we just don’t reap the benefits of the tax revenue that comes with it,” he added.

Our illegal drug trade problems won’t be solved after Rec MJ is legalized in the state, but who is solving them now?

17 Thoughts on “UPDATE: Mayor TenHaken & Sheriff Milstead turn public safety presser into anti IM 27 campaign

  1. Very Stable Genius on September 20, 2022 at 12:53 pm said:

    What I got a kick out of with that press conference was when the Mayor mentioned how so many in South Dakota love the 2nd Amendment, then he mentioned rather quickly and nervously that he loves it too. #AlwaysThinkingAbout2026 #YesMasksNoMasks #DrKingStatueYesCampingYes

  2. Fear & Loathing in Sioux Falls on September 20, 2022 at 12:54 pm said:

    But if we all smoke weed, then crime shouldn’t bother us.

  3. Isn’t it funny how they seem to think regulating guns in SF would be hard to do but it is currently against city ordinance to hunt game in the city limits.

  4. Fear & Loathing in Sioux Falls on September 20, 2022 at 1:07 pm said:

    I am sorry, but if I found a mountain lion in my backyard. I’m going to shoot it, but first I had have to go to Scheels to rent a gun and buy a bullet.

  5. Further Fear & Loathing on September 20, 2022 at 1:09 pm said:

    What about that program where the police shoot deer in the city limits?…. Oh, wait a minute, they are already shooting suspects…. Never mind….

  6. D@ily Spin on September 20, 2022 at 1:28 pm said:

    Recreational pot users are a peaceful sort. Most do not own guns. In Colorado and Nevada MJ stores have closed because pot is cheaper and more potent illegally on the street. The problem to focus on is hard drugs (Coke, Meth, Fent, Jaba) and dealers who push them. Those dealers carry guns.
    The sheriff and mayor should get out more. Pot is here to stay but hardly more in use than more dangerous tobacco and alcohol. Fent is sold as colored candy to minors. It’s safer at passive pot smoker concerts than anywhere where there’s hard drugs and associated crime.

  7. D@ily Spin on September 20, 2022 at 1:48 pm said:

    When the focus gets shifted away from recreational MJ users, the jail will be not so crowded and the courts not so clogged. There will be more attention/resources/prosecution for dealers and hard drugs.

  8. I would like them to develop their concerns for pot legalization relative to crime. Are they suggesting that pot smokers are more likely to use their guns while under the influence, or that pot is a gateway drug which further entices violent drug dealer activity in our fine city?

    Personally, I’m more worried about pot usage and driving under the influence as well as what it can do to our lungs. I find it utterly amazing that we have spent the last forty years trying to get the drunk driver off our roads and the last thirty years trying to get everyone to stop lighting-up and polluting their lungs, but now a growing majority want to legalize pot smoking.

    All of this just goes to show that most public policy is driven by the Almighty Dollar and not any common sense or what is good for the public in general. Rather, the concerns, in time and place, seem to be more about getting the drunk driver off the road and having fewer lung issues for potential patients which then leads to lower health care and insurance costs just as many see pot legalization as the panacea to greater tax revenues for the state without further raising taxes in other ways. #ItsTheMoneyStupid

  9. I can guarantee eating bacon is probably more harmful to your physical health than MJ.

  10. Brain Drain from S. Dakota on September 20, 2022 at 3:20 pm said:

    Reading comments minimizing the effects of the usage of MaryJane is why South Dakota has turned into what is it today resulting in an increase in Brain Drain. IM27 passes it’s only going to get worse. Stupid is as Stupid Does.

  11. How did you know I like bacon? I especially enjoy it when they smoke it for me.

  12. Hoover's Ghost on September 21, 2022 at 7:04 am said:

    Reefer Madness https://youtu.be/u1pa4uGue90 airing in Sioux Falls after 86 years. What more could we ask from a bunch of dumb Dutchmen?

  13. Fearing the Fuhrer & More on September 21, 2022 at 10:45 am said:

    “dumb Dutchman”? Would that be anything like publicly naming yourself as a part of the overall Mafia?

  14. Sick of Fearing on September 21, 2022 at 1:26 pm said:

    Reefer Madness is coming to town? I remember when Deep Throat came to town, but I was too young then. #BigWatergateHistoryBuff

  15. Fear Not! on September 21, 2022 at 2:26 pm said:

    I am glad to see that guy with the purple shirt is back. Like I once told my therapist, he helped me get through the pandemic.

  16. The “REAL” reason they don’t want Marijuana legalized on a recreational basis is, they won’t be able to kick your door in if they smell marijuana. It will limit their power to search and make what they like to do, a violation of the 4th Amendment. Let’s not kid ourselves on this one… They like to use the, “I smelled marijuana” ruse like they have been doing for decades. It will take away their power in that area…

  17. Ask Not! on September 25, 2022 at 5:50 pm said:

    But Ed Meese once said that if you aren’t doing anything wrong than you shouldn’t fear a warrantless search.

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