PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed six medical cannabis and hemp bills into law. Implementing these bills will be part of Governor Noem’s focus on creating a safe and responsible medical cannabis program that is the most patient-focused in the country. South Dakota voters in 2020 enacted the law to legalize medical marijuana in the state, and Noem this year pushed for several changes to the program.
The issue of marijuana legalization has been a sticky one for South Dakotans. The cannabis legalization initiative appeared on the November 3, 2020 South Dakota general election ballot. Passing with 54% of the vote, the measure would have legalized recreational marijuana in South Dakota effective July 1, 2021. Additionally, Amendment A required the South Dakota State Legislature to establish a medical marijuana program and legal hemp sales by April 1, 2022. On February 8, 2021, Amendment A was struck down as unconstitutional by Judge Christina Klinger on the grounds that it violated the state’s single-subject rule for ballot initiatives. The case was appealed to the state supreme court, which upheld the decision on November 24, 2021. In February of this year, the measure can up again and was passed by the Senate. The House had different ideas and killed the measure later that month.
Here is a list of the medical marijuana bills approved by the Governor along with some links to keep informed.
- SB 19 permits certain facilities to establish reasonable restrictions related to the medical use of cannabis.
- SB 21 revises provisions related to the revocation of a medical cannabis registry identification card.
- SB 24 establishes a maximum number of cannabis plants that may be cultivated by a medical cannabis cardholder.
- SB 26 revises the definition of practitioner for purposes of the medical cannabis program.
- SB 118 establishes provisions related to the testing of medical cannabis.
- SB 201 revises provisions regarding industrial hemp.
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