About South Dakota
South Dakota is located in the middle of the United States and borders Nebraska to the north, North Dakota to the east, Iowa to the south and Wyoming to the west. The state has a population of just over 1 million people and consists of wide-open spaces with rolling hills, prairies, and forests. South Dakota is home to some of America’s most famous attractions such as Deadwood, Mount Rushmore National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and more.
Cannabis laws in South Dakota
South Dakota voted in the year 2020 for medical and recreational cannabis use. Between Measure 26, the purpose of which was to legalize cannabis for medical purposes, and amendment A which is a constitutional alteration to legalize recreational uses, if the measure got approved, will put the State as a benchmark in the history of cannabis maps.
It would greatly boost the anticipated tax revenue by 2024. The revenue would be generated from licensing fees, sales tax, and 15% excess tax. After the regulatory costs are balanced and the system has attained some stability, 50% of the net revenue would be distributed to the public and 50% to general funds annually. Moreover, the State would save more on the incarceration cost after the decriminalization of Marijuana laws.
In November 2020, South Dakota became the first State which legalizes both recreational and medical uses of Marijuana simultaneously. It was made possible with Amendment A and ballot measure 26.
69% of the voters passed Measure 26, which legalized medical cannabis and allowed the people who have a Medical Cannabis card in South Dakota to purchase and possess up to 3 ounces of Cannabis from a pharmacy that the State Department has approved Health to sell Marijuana.
The State Department of Health took an approximate time till October 29, 2020, to design and implement the rules and regulations regarding the program, and the medical cannabis cards were issued by November 2020.
Amendment A was passed by the supporters in a very close fight with the opposition, with just almost 13% of the votes more than the opposition party. With the legalization, an adult who is 21 years or above can possess up to one ounce of Marijuana. The South Dakota Department of Revenue will frame the recreational purposes sale and purchase guidelines by April 2022. Constitutional Amendment A formally took effect on July 1, 2021.
Ways to get your MMJ card in South Dakota
There have been no major reforms or regulations for medical cannabis in South Dakota for a very long time. Recently, in 2020 voters passed Measure 26 and legalized Medical Cannabis. Now, the use of Marijuana is legal only when it is used for medical purposes. To purchase marijuana legally, you must have a Medical Marijuana Card in South Dakota.
MMJ card is a certification provided by a medical cannabis doctor, which proves that you have gone through proper evaluation and diagnosis with an MMJ doctor and you need medical cannabis. These are the following steps you need to follow to get your MMJ card in South Dakota:
Submit an Online Application
To register for an MMJ card, you need to fill out an application submitted to the Department of Health. It is the first step that you should follow to get your Medical Cannabis Card in South Dakota. Filling up the application is a fast and easy process. To complete the application, you need to fill up your basic details like name, age, gender, and residential proof. It is very important to fill in all the correct details while applying because if the application’s verification process is rejected because of any unauthentic information, then the registration fee is non-refundable in any such case.
Book an Evaluation Session with an MMJ Doctor
Explore the best list of options for the most experienced Medical Cannabis Doctors in South Dakota because the MMJ doctor plays the most vital role in the complete process. You can book an online appointment with a professional and registered MMJ doctor to get the best evaluation session. The evaluation can also be taken through video conferencing. During the evaluation session, the MMJ doctor analyzes your current and past medical conditions. You have to present your medical records and history of all forms of treatments and medications that you have been through. Before booking an appointment online, make sure to verify if the doctor is licensed from the state and is not associated with any fraudulent website. After critically examining the patient, it is ultimately the doctor’s decision that is concluded as the final result in determining a person’s eligibility in getting the MMJ card.
Approval from MMJ Doctor
If the MMJ doctors in South Dakota verify and recommend that you need Medical Marijuana treatment, then you can get your official MMJ card with the doctor’s approval on it. You can also receive your certification online from a 420 doctor in South Dakota once you have the evaluation process. Now, owning an MMJ card in South Dakota allows you legally to purchase Marijuana from licensed medical stores in a fixed amount.
If you are confused about the list of the options available before going for your Medical Marijuana Treatment, in that case, we have the best clinics available in South Dakota for MMJ treatment. We at KIF clinics provide every individual with highly experienced and friendly doctors. All the previous patients so highly rate the services at KIF clinics. Don’t confuse yourself by wandering your thoughts into other options. With years of experience and scientific research in Medical Marijuana treatment, we carry out the best 420 evaluations in South Dakota, providing the best results to the patients in the minimum amount of time.
Qualifying conditions for Patients
Qualifying conditions are a set of medical illnesses or chronic ailments observed to get better with Medical Marijuana Treatment. During the 420 evaluation, an MMJ doctor generally looks for the presence of any of these chronic diseases or terminal illnesses to allow the patient to be eligible for the Medical Cannabis program.
Under the latest law passed by the voters, conditions that allow a patient to use medical cannabis must be a debilitating medical condition which SDCL 34-20G-1 defines as “a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition.” In case the treatment of any illness causes cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating pain; severe nausea; seizures; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristics of multiple sclerosis.
Caregivers
A certified patient with a medical cannabis card in South Dakota can have a designated caregiver if:
- The caregiver must be 21 years of age or above.
- The caregiver must agree to assist with a qualifying patient’s medical use of Cannabis.
- Does not have a criminal record and should have never been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense
- The caregiver can be designated to a maximum of 5 people.
Possession and Cultivation of Marijuana In South Dakota
If you have a valid MMJ card in South Dakota, you can purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis or even more depending on the doctor’s perspective/ Without an MMJ card, in the sense of only recreational use, you cannot possess more than one ounce of Cannabis.
During the registration process for the MMJ card, you can also apply for approval to cultivate three plants in your own house. They must be out of plain sight and also out of reach for minors in the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: A person must be 21 years or above to be eligible to become a caregiver.
Ans: Yes, but first, you need to register with an application to the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program. On approval, you can only cultivate three plants of marijuana.
Ans: No, it remains illegal in South Dakota to drive under the influence of Marijuana.
Ans: No, carrying any cannabis product across State boundaries is a federal crime and might result in federal criminal prosecution.