South Dakota Working To Avoid Medical Cannabis Delays

The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) will host meetings and a telephone town hall prior to medical cannabis rules taking effect to prevent any last-minute delays for the program, the Associated Press reports.

South Dakota’s medical cannabis initiative was authorized last November by a frustrating variety of citizens. Addressing concerns from Sen. Lee Schoenbeck (R), Health Secretary Kim Malsam said in a legal hearing recently the DOH will have a «strong set of rules» in the Fall however knows the program may alter in the coming years.

«We’ll have a consistent process of improvement.» — Malsam, by means of AP News

Her view is opposed by Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who attempted to delay South Dakota’s recently passed medical cannabis initiative this session on the premises the state would not have adequate time to set up an appropriate system. She pointed out other states with «hasty» medical cannabis rollouts and their resulting «mess,» according to the report.

In other current medical cannabis advancements, South Dakota’s Department of Revenue (DOR) has figured out the state ought to charge sales tax on Medical Marijuana License cannabis, in spite of prescription drugs normally not being taxed. Chief Legal Counsel for the DOR Michael Houdyshell stated in the report that medical cannabis must be taxed because it is not «prescribed» like other drugs.

South Dakota made history in November 2020, passing its medical cannabis and adult-use efforts at the exact same time. However, both have received blowback from police and the guv’s workplace. While the medical cannabis effort is progressing in spite of the guv’s tried hold-ups, the adult-use cannabis effort was challenged in court on the claim that it covered more than one topic and was overruled by a circuit court earlier this year. The adult-use effort was just recently arranged for a hearing in the South Dakota Supreme Court, where its fate hangs in the balance.

Lukas Barfield

Lukas is an independent writer and medical cannabis activist who lives in Tacoma. When he’s not discussing cannabis or working to bring a better medical cannabis system to Washington, he likes to DJ, play adaptive sports and volunteer in his Tacoma community. He supports national legalization and the opening of the medical cannabis market in all 50 states.