Marijuana | Cannabis

State senators are passing a bill that would legalize and tax recreational marijuana.The bill arose from a summer study that looked at both recreational and medical cannabis. Voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2020, but the constitutional amendment was struck down by the courts.

The state has approved four medical marijuana dispensaries with more than a dozen applications pending.People are starting up medical cannabis businesses, even while the state Legislature considers dozens of bills designed to tweak industry regulations.

Senate lawmakers are passing a bill that allows medical marijuana patients to grow up to six plants.The bill now heads to the House, where lawmakers there already passed a ban on home grow.

Kittrick Jeffries, a former marijuana industry compliance officer and founder of a new Rapid City-based cannabis consulting firm called Dakota Cannabis Consulting, joins SDPB's Lee Strubinger for a conversation about the status of marijuana reform in the state.

Cities and counties across the state are receiving permit applications for medical marijuana dispensaries.The state’s medical marijuana industry is gearing up for business and some patients have already received their medical cards. But it could be months before they’re able to purchase cannabis.

Amendment A has been struck down by the South Dakota Supreme Court as illegal under the state constitution. That opinion came out Wednesday.

South Dakota issued its first medical marijuana cards Thursday, according to the state Department of Health.

The deadline is drawing near to apply for a license to operate a medical cannabis dispensary or testing facility within Sioux Falls city limits. Stacy Kooistra is the city attorney and he joins us with more details.

An interim rules committee okayed the last remaining regulations in the medical cannabis program this week.

In less than a month the state Department of Heath will start issuing medical marijuana cards.But members of a legislative subcommittee are looking for ways to scrap the entire voter-approved medical marijuana program for adults.