Navigating the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers

The South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program has been operational since July 1, 2021, following the successful passage of Initiated Measure No. 26 in November 2020. This program allows qualifying patients to access medical cannabis to alleviate symptoms of certain debilitating conditions. In this blog post, we'll provide an overview of the program, including the qualifying conditions, the application process, and the rules governing the use of medical cannabis in South Dakota.

Qualifying Conditions: South Dakota recognizes 13 chronic or debilitating medical conditions that qualify patients for medical cannabis treatment. These conditions include:

1. Cancer

2. Multiple sclerosis

3. Glaucoma

4. Epilepsy

5. Crohn's disease

6. ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)

7. Parkinson's

8. Severe, debilitating pain

9. Severe nausea

10. Seizures

11. Muscle spasms

12. Cachexia (wasting syndrome)

13. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Additionally, patients with chronic or debilitating medical conditions or treatments that produce one or more of the following symptoms may also qualify:

1. Severe, debilitating pain

2. Severe nausea

3. Seizures

4. Muscle spasms

5. Cachexia (wasting syndrome)

Application Process: To join the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program and apply for a medical cannabis card, follow these steps:

1. Visit a physician to obtain a medical certification indicating that you will benefit from the therapeutic or palliative use of medical cannabis.

2. Register with the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program through the online portal.

3. Complete the application process, including submitting the required documentation and paying the application fee.

4. If approved, you will receive your medical cannabis card, which allows you to purchase and possess medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries in South Dakota.

Rules Governing the Use of Medical Cannabis: South Dakota has established rules to ensure the safety of patients, students, and the public in the medical cannabis industry. Some key regulations include:

1. Patients and caregivers must register with the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program to obtain a medical cannabis card.

2. Patients can possess up to three ounces of medical cannabis or an equivalent amount of cannabis products.

3. Patients can grow up to six cannabis plants (three mature three immature) in their homes.

4. Medical cannabis products must be purchased from licensed dispensaries in South Dakota.

5. Sales or use tax applies to the purchase of medical cannabis, with a state sales and use tax rate of 4.2%. Municipal tax may also apply.

Conclusion: The South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program provides qualifying patients with access to medical cannabis to alleviate symptoms of certain debilitating conditions. By following the application process and adhering to the rules governing the use of medical cannabis, patients and caregivers can navigate the program effectively.

Blog post written with assistance from Grok software; errors may occur; please perform independent research to verify information.