Marijuana to be legalized in South Dakota? Still hard to believe. But as of July 1, 2021, both medicinal and recreational marijuana will be legalized in the Mount Rushmore State.

According to Marijuana Business Daily, 69.9% of voters voted yes for medical marijuana (measure 26) and 54.2% voted yes for recreational marijuana. Adults who are above the age of 21 will be able to possess 1 ounce of cannabis, and registered patients will be able to possess up to 3 ounces.

But is it a good thing for South Dakotans? Yes, it is. As per the National Institute of Health, for over 3,000 years people have been using cannabis to cure health issues such as epilepsy, chronic pain, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and even cancer in some cases.

Besides, who doesn’t want to be happy? Marijuana contains the ingredient THC, that makes the brain respond to pleasure such as eating and having sex. This gives the body a euphoric and relaxed feeling.

Marijuana also helps in improving the mood, boosts up energy and even helps in losing weight. Instead of feeling depressed or moody, with the legalization of marijuana, people can just go and buy weed from a dispensary instead of buying from illegal dealers.        

Did you know that cannabis can also make you creative? As stated by Elite Daily, a study found that cannabis causes psychotomimetic symptoms, which could make users create connections between ideas that aren’t necessarily related.

A coin has two sides, and so does marijuana and everything else that we do. One accurate example is alcohol. Alcohol, when taken more than supposed to, can cause serious health issues and car accidents.

A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers who use marijuana are at a significantly lower risk for a car crash than drivers who consume alcohol.

So, should we just drive high all the time and go wherever the whimsiness, fantasy and fun take us? Definitely not. Despite not causing car accidents as often as alcohol does, driving under the influence of marijuana should still be limited.

The New York Times mentioned that marijuana may harm the brains of those under 25. While marijuana may be safer than many legal drugs, consumption should be limited.

Thirty-five states legalized medicinal marijuana, and 15 legalized it completely, with New York being the latest.

If the majority of South Dakotans voted yes for weed, there must be a reason right? Maybe it’s not so bad after all.