BALLOT TO GET LONGER

Proposals Include Medical Marijuana Use, Airplane Limits

PIERRE - South Dakota voters this fall will decide the fate of ballot
measures that seek to boost the tax on cigarettes, allow marijuana
for medical purposes, prohibit an early starting date for school and
limit the use of state airplanes, a state official announced Thursday.

Secretary of State Chris Nelson had announced in May that sufficient
petition signatures had been filed to put the tobacco tax and school
starting date measures on the November ballot.

Nelson's office on Wednesday determined that enough signatures had
been filed to qualify the medical marijuana and state airplane
proposals for the ballot.

The four proposed laws will join four proposed constitutional
amendments on the fall ballot. South Dakota voters also are likely to
decide whether to accept the bill passed by the Legislature that
would ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota.

In addition, the court system is expected to determine whether public
votes can be held on two other proposed laws that seek to repeal the
video lottery and a tax on cellular telephone companies.

Tobacco: The proposed law on tobacco taxes would nearly triple the
state tax on cigarettes, from the current 53 cents a pack to $1.53.
It also would boost the existing 10 percent wholesale tax on other
tobacco products to 35 percent.

Supporters estimate the tobacco tax measure would increase state
revenues by $40 million a year, which would more than double the
current take from tobacco taxes.

The first $30 million in current tobacco revenues would go into the
state general fund for any use approved by the Legislature. Up to $5
million in new revenue would be steered into anti-smoking programs.

One-third of new revenues beyond that $5 million would be put into
the property-tax reduction fund, one-third into an education trust
fund and one-third into the state health care trust fund.

Schools: The school proposal would prevent schools from starting
classes before Aug. 31.

Supporters contend that starting school earlier hurts tourism-related
businesses by taking away their student employees before the busy
Labor Day weekend, but school officials argue such decisions should
be left up to each local school district.

Marijuana: Another initiated measure would allow the use of marijuana
for medical purposes if a patient and a doctor agreed that the
benefits outweigh the risks. The doctor then could sign a
recommendation for marijuana therapy.

Supporters contend that marijuana could help people with diseases
such as cancer and AIDS, and those who suffer from chronic pain,
nausea or seizures.

Opponents counter that even if the South Dakota measure is passed,
federal law will still outlaw the use of marijuana.

Aircraft: The final measure would bar personal trips on state
aircraft. Economist and activist Reynold Nesiba started the petition
after reports that Gov. Mike Rounds uses state-owned planes for
personal and political trips. Rounds has said he reimburses the state
for such trips.