Last verified: May 2026
Path to the Governorship
Larry Rhoden served as Lieutenant Governor under Gov. Kristi Noem from January 2019 until her January 25, 2025 confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security under President Trump. As Lieutenant Governor, Rhoden assumed the governorship the same day Noem departed.
Rhoden’s background:
- Fourth-generation rancher from Union Center (Meade County, western SD).
- Long-tenured state legislator (Senate and House) prior to Lt. Gov. service.
- Conservative-Republican policy register.
- Family-cattle-ranching cultural identity.
Cannabis Posture — Pragmatic But Not Reform-Oriented
Rhoden’s cannabis posture has been pragmatic but not reform-oriented. Notable signed legislation:
- Senate Bill 39 (March 2026) — Restricts hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids (delta-8, delta-10, THC-O, HHC, THCP) and repealed the state’s industrial hemp licensing program. See SB 39 page.
- House Bill 1099 (2025/2026) — Set up an automatic legalization mechanism for crystalline-polymorph psilocybin if/when FDA approves and DEA reschedules it. Notable as a forward-looking provision for psychedelics.
- Senate Bill 83 (March 12, 2025) — Reduced first- and second-offense ingestion of controlled substances under SDCL § 22-42-5.1 from a Class 5 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor effective July 1, 2025. The "internal possession" doctrine itself survives.
Legislative-Branch Coordination
Rhoden has worked with the Republican-supermajority legislature without active confrontation on cannabis-policy questions. He has not advocated for medical-program expansion or recreational legalization. He has signed restriction legislation (SB 39 hemp restrictions). His posture suggests a disposition to maintain the status quo: medical program exists, restrictions on hemp-intoxicants tighten, but no major program expansion or repeal.
The 2026 Republican Gubernatorial Primary
Rhoden faces a competitive Republican primary on June 2, 2026:
- Larry Rhoden (incumbent) — running for election to a full term in his own right.
- Dusty Johnson (R, U.S. House SD-At-Large) — SD’s sole U.S. House member; previously SD Public Utilities Commissioner. Considered a strong Republican-establishment candidate.
- Toby Doeden — Aberdeen-area businessman with substantial self-funded campaign profile.
- Jon Hansen — House Speaker (2025–2026 session); also running. Considered a more conservative-coalition candidate.
If no candidate clears 35% in the June 2 primary, a July 28, 2026 runoff is triggered. The competitive primary creates uncertainty about which Republican wins the nomination.
The General Election Outlook
SD’s general-election environment is heavily Republican (Trump+26 in 2024). The Democratic gubernatorial nomination is uncertain; SD Democrats have not held the governorship since the early 1990s. The 2026 general election is likely to be Republican-leaning regardless of the primary outcome.
Cannabis-Policy Implications of the 2026 Election
Rhoden vs. challengers cannabis-policy distinctions are modest:
- All Republican candidates are likely to maintain restrictive cannabis posture.
- Hansen as House Speaker has overseen Sen. Carley’s 2026 repeal-bill committee process; his cannabis posture is the most conservative of the field.
- Rhoden is the incumbent and may prefer status-quo continuity.
- Dusty Johnson’s federal-policy experience may inform his approach to cannabis rescheduling implementation.
- Doeden’s posture is less defined; his business-focus framing may permit some flexibility.
None of the candidates is positioning for cannabis-policy reform. Reform advocacy will need to operate through legislative-process work or future ballot initiatives rather than gubernatorial leadership.
The 2027 Legislative Session Backstop
Whichever Republican wins the 2026 election will face the 2027 SD legislative session. The session is the next operational inflection point for cannabis-and-hemp policy. Sen. Carley’s 2027 bills are likely to include:
- Renewed potency-cap proposals.
- Renewed repeal-trigger proposals.
- Possibly additional hemp-restriction proposals beyond SB 39.
Reform advocates may pursue:
- Qualifying-condition expansion (chronic pain absent another condition; severe anxiety).
- Internal-possession doctrine repeal beyond SB 83’s penalty downgrade.
- Tribal-state compact framework.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org
Related on this site: SD 2026 Election Watch, Carley's 2026 SD Medical-Repeal Bills, AG Marty Jackley.