S.D. lawmakers pass measure to allow medical marijuana

March 12, 2021 KayAdmin US 0

SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 24: Containers of medical marijuana are seen at the Alternative Herbal Health Services cannabis dispensary April 24, 2006 in San Francisco, California. The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement last week rejecting the use of medical marijuana declaring that there is no scientific evidence supporting use of the drug for medical treatment. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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UPDATED 8:10 PM PT – Thursday, March 11, 2021

South Dakota moved to legalize medical marijuana after a dispute between the House and Senate to delay the process. On Wednesday, South Dakota Legislature could not agree on a way to rework a House bill that intended to push back the timeline to allow medical marijuana to late 2022.

Because of the dispute, Initiated Measure 46 will take effect July 1, 2021, and will legalize the use of marijuana for people with debilitating health conditions. This includes cancer, anorexia and anxiety.

CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 26: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this screenshot from the RNC’s livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem addresses the virtual convention on August 26, 2020. The convention is being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic but will include speeches from various locations including Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington, DC. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images)

South Dakota Gov. Krisit Noem (R-S.D.) (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images)

Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) said she is most concerned about the provisions that allow people to grow marijuana at home.

“So that is the challenge,” Noem stated. “The amount of conditions that it can be prescribed for. Once a doctor writes that prescription, an unlimited amount of plants can be grown at home and how do we contain that and not make sure it is being utilized for different purposes?”

About 70 percent of voters in the 2020 elections were in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical use. However, Noem has opposed recreational marijuana and a decision on that is now pending in court.