New South Dakota bill SB 82 will stop access to medical MJ

This week, the South Dakota legislature will seek to approve new restrictions to the state’s medical marijuana program that will stop access to thousands! 

We estimate that 80 to 90 percent of all current South Dakota Marijuana cardholders will be impacted if the new measure is passed.

Senate Bill 82 (SB 82) will change the law to now require medical cannabis certifications be done only through a patient’s primary care doctor. 

The bill can be found on the State’s website here: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/25017/259603 

Specifically, the legislation would amend the current South Dakota medical cannabis program to:

For purposes of this chapter, a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship exists if:

• (1) The practitioner is the patient’s primary-care provider;
• (2) The practitioner is a board-certified physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, specializing in the provision of care and treatment for a debilitating medical condition with which the patient has been diagnosed; or
• (3) The practitioner is an individual to whom the patient was referred by:
• (a) The patient’s primary-care provider; or
• (b) A physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse, meeting the requirements of subdivision (2).

As you may know, most of the state’s doctors are not authorized to certify patients for MJ, which would prevent many from getting or renewing their card. 

Many people do not have a primary care doctor because most providers don’t require a referral to be seen. 

Also, many health institutions in the state have policies against seeing patients for cannabis.

SB 82 would also harm our veterans who receive care from the VA as it would prohibit them from getting access due to the fact that cannabis is not legal at the Federal level. 

Because marijuana is not legal at the Federal level, the visit to a primary care doctor would not be covered by a patient’s insurance.

This new law is not at all what the South Dakota voters originally approved when medical cannabis was legalized in the state. If passed SB 82 would benefit neighboring Minnesota and black-market sellers. 

In fact, the state’s oversight committee had refused the bill last year and it is being brought back on the floor this week. 

Take action now by voicing your concern to stop SB 82!

Call AND email your legislator now to vote against SB 82. Tell them they should oppose SB 82.

Your legislator’s contact information can be found here: https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Contacts/69

If you do not know who your legislator is in your district, you can look them up here: https://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Find