South Dakota voters approved medical marijuana in 2020, but the program has faced significant legal and political opposition. While the medical program operates, recreational legalization was struck down by the state Supreme Court. The medical program allows patients to purchase various cannabis products from licensed dispensaries but prohibits home cultivation. South Dakota represents one of the more conservative approaches to medical cannabis with ongoing political resistance to expansion. The state continues to refine its medical program while maintaining opposition to recreational legalization.
To get a medical marijuana card in South Dakota: 1) Establish a relationship with a licensed South Dakota physician, 2) Get certified by the doctor for a qualifying condition, 3) Submit application to the South Dakota Department of Health with required documents and fees, 4) Receive medical marijuana card upon approval.
Medical marijuana qualifying conditions include: cancer, chronic pain, PTSD, epilepsy or debilitating seizures, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, ALS, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe nausea or vomiting, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and terminal illness. The state may add additional conditions through regulatory process.
The South Dakota Department of Health oversees the medical marijuana program, including patient registration, physician certification, and dispensary oversight. The department handles licensing, regulation, and compliance for medical cannabis cultivation, processing, and retail operations throughout the state.
Yes, medical marijuana patients must register with the South Dakota Department of Health to receive a medical marijuana identification card. This card is required to legally possess and purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries in the state.
Qualified medical patients access cannabis through state-licensed dispensaries with their medical marijuana card and valid government ID. South Dakota has a limited number of licensed dispensaries serving patients throughout the state, with continued expansion planned.
Medical marijuana registration costs and renewal schedules are established by the South Dakota Department of Health. Cards must be renewed periodically with updated physician certifications. The exact fees and renewal periods are set through the state's medical marijuana regulations.
