Medical Marijuana will be implemented on July 1, 2021 in South Dakota. House Bill 1100 which sought to delay implementation until January 1, 2022 failed to pass during the last week of legislative session, meaning that implementation will move forward with no changes to the statutes passed under Initiated Measure 26.
Chapter 34-20G contains the statutes implementing the medical marijuana program.
South Dakota’s medical marijuana program will allow qualifying patients or designated caregivers to possess three ounces of cannabis or less or three cannabis plants minimum. Patients must have a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition and written certification from a physician that the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefit from the medical use of cannabis to treat or alleviate the patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptom associated with the debilitating medical condition.
The South Dakota Department of Health is the department designated to implement the medical marijuana program. By October 29, 2021, the department must promulgate rules necessary to implement the program. The department must begin issuing cards no later than November 18, 2021.
SDAHO has created a webinar series and
resource page for facilities to prepare for medical marijuana implementation in South Dakota. The webinar series is offered as a package and includes topics such as human resource implications, risk management and employment law, use of CBD and medical marijuana in healthcare and the impact of medical marijuana in senior living and long term care settings, end of life care. Additional resources and education will be added to the website as we move closer to full implementation.
