South Dakota's Governor signs bills into law amending Medical Cannabis
South Dakota - Republican Governor Kristi Noem has signed several bills into law amending the state’s medical cannabis regulations.
Senate Bill 1 expands the pool of patients eligible to receive medical cannabis authorizations to include those diagnosed with AIDS/HIV, ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, cancer (or who are undergoing chemotherapy), Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, and/or post-traumatic stress. However, the legislation repeals provisions that previously provided patients and others the ability to petition health department officials to add additional qualifying conditions. Going forward, lawmakers will have the sole discretion to add new qualifying conditions.
Another bill, House Bill 1053, prohibits health practitioners from providing patients with an authorization to access medical cannabis if they are either pregnant or breastfeeding. No other state explicitly imposes similar restrictions. NORML opposed HB 1053 on the grounds that it unduly interferes with doctor/patient relations.
Governor Noem signed a third bill into law, House Bill 1154, which prohibits recommending physicians from offering discounts or other financial incentives in exchange for their services.
The Governor also vetoed legislation, House Bill 1209, which sought to increase the amount allowable THC levels in state-legal hemp products.
South Dakotans approved a citizens’ initiative legalizing cannabis for medical purposes in 2020. At that time, Gov. Noem campaigned against the initiative effort.
