South Dakota Cannabis News Recap 3/12/22

Mar 12

This past week, the South Dakota Legislature passed Senate Bill 24, which establishes new limits on home cultivation by medical cannabis patient ID cardholders in South Dakota. Under SB 24, cardholders would be permitted to grow a total of four plants (two flowering plants and two non-flowering plants). The current limit is three total plants per patient.

Unfortunately, SB 24 also eliminates the policy (established by Measure 26) that allows doctors to recommend higher plant counts for certain patients when appropriate.

Governor Noem now has three options (which is the case for legislation in South Dakota): veto the bill, sign the bill, or allow the bill to become law without her signature. We expect SB 24 to become law.

While this is not the ideal outcome, it is a relatively satisfactory result given the fact that there are many legislators in Pierre who wanted to eliminate medical cannabis home cultivation altogether. It’s worth remembering that HB 1004 – a total ban on home cultivation by medical cannabis patients – passed the South Dakota House 41-29 back in January. Thankfully, the South Dakota Senate did not agree with such a drastic change.

Thank you to everyone who contacted their legislators on this issue (and many others) over the past several months. Your calls and emails had a real impact in Pierre and helped us defeat a number of very bad bills.

This upcoming week, we will release our 2022 Cannabis Scorecard. It will provide a detailed tally of each legislator's votes on cannabis legislation during the 2022 South Dakota legislative session, and additional analysis. It will also show the 2020 results for Amendment A and Measure 26 – there are quite a few legislators who are completely ignoring their constituents.

As it relates to cannabis policy, the 2022 legislative session is almost over, unless we see unexpected vetos from Governor Noem or last-minute actions by legislators.

We’ll have updates very soon about the signature drive and the campaign ahead. We’re going to pass cannabis legalization in South Dakota…again.

Check out the news recap below, which includes articles about medical cannabis dispensaries receiving licenses from local government.

Thank you again for your continued support.

March 8th: Lincoln County grants a dispensary license to Shangri-La LLC

A fourth medical marijuana dispensary was approved in Lincoln County. The license was granted to Shangri-La LLC, a dispensary company based in Missouri. The dispensary has 90 days to submit an application to the state for further approval. Shangri-La is the 16th state-certified medical dispensary in South Dakota.

Argus Leader: “New dispensary secures Lincoln County's marijuana license”

March 9th: South Dakota Legislature reaches a decision on home cultivation

On Wednesday, March 9, a Conference Committee comprised of three South Dakota Representatives and three South Dakota Senators voted 4-2 to approve Senate Bill 24, which establishes new limits on home cultivation by medical cannabis patient ID cardholders in South Dakota. Under SB 24, cardholders would be permitted to grow a total of four plants (two flowering plants and two non-flowering plants). The current limit is three total plants per patient.

SB 24 also eliminates the policy (established by Measure 26) that allows doctors to recommend higher plant counts for certain patients when appropriate. Governor Noem now has three options (which is the case for all legislation in South Dakota): veto the bill, sign the bill, or allow the bill to become law without her signature. SDBML expects SB 24 to become law.

KELO: “How many marijuana plants can you have at home?”

Mitchell Republic: “SD lawmakers compromise on home cultivation of medical marijuana”

Rapid City Journal: “Medical marijuana legislation now awaits Gov. Noem's signature to become law”

Associated Press: “Pierre Wrap-Up: GOP Tension on Federal Funds, AG Impeachment”

WNAX: “SD Senate Approves Marijuana Plant Limit”

March 9th: Rapid City lottery selects 15 medical cannabis dispensaries

The state’s Medical Cannabis Program conducted a lottery drawing for cannabis dispensaries in Rapid City. Of the 15 licenses, seven were awarded to Puffy’s LLC, three were awarded to Greenlight Dispensary, two were awarded to Genesis Farms, and one was awarded to each of the following companies: CC Health, Hive Collective, and Rapid City Cannabis. The listed awardees have 14 days to complete the application process and pay a $3,500 license fee. Following the March 9th drawing, the total number of medical dispensaries that have been granted a license in South Dakota stands at 31.

Rapid City Journal: “Rapid City medical marijuana dispensaries selected by state”

NewsCenter1: “Rapid City’s 15 medical cannabis dispensary certificates awarded”

KOTA: “What are the next steps for medical cannabis dispensaries in Rapid City?”