Press Release – February 22, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2021

Contact: 
Matthew Schweich
Campaign Director, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws

Press Release:

South Dakota Marijuana Reform Groups Propose Compromise on Medical Marijuana Legislation

Compromise bill is an alternative to House Bill 1100A, which would cause severe delays to implementation and criminalize medical marijuana patients, despite 70% of South Dakota voters approving medical marijuana last year

An informational packet with the details of the compromise is available here.

A recording of a press conference held today to announce the compromise can be viewed here.

Sioux Falls, SD — Today, the leaders of New Approach South Dakota and South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws are proposing a compromise regarding the implementation of the medical marijuana law established by Measure 26. The proposed legislation makes the following changes to SDCL 34-20G (the statute established by Measure 26):

- Extends the deadline for the Department of Health to write rules and regulations for the medical marijuana program from October 29, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (HB 1100A proposed October 31, 2022).

- Extends the deadline for issuing registry identification cards to qualifying medical marijuana patients from November 18, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (HB 1100A proposed November 21, 2022).

- Ensures that specific legal protections are provided to medical marijuana patients before registry identification cards are issued. These protections will take effect on July 1, 2021, which is what Measure 26 currently requires (HB 1100A proposed delaying these protections to July 1, 2022).

- Extends the deadline for establishing a secure phone- or web-based verification system for registry identification cards from October 29, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (HB 1100A proposed July 1, 2022).

- Extends the deadline for the Department of Health and Department of Education to establish a medical marijuana policy for schools from fall 2021 to January 31, 2022 (HB 1100A proposed removing the deadline entirely).

- Expands the medical cannabis oversight committee in size and scope and directs it to report back to the Legislature with any recommended legislation by December 15, 2021.

- Increases reporting requirements for the Department of Health and the oversight committee in order to monitor the pace of the implementation process.

- Clarifies limits on home cultivation by medical marijuana patients.

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South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) is a registered South Dakota statewide ballot question committee.