South Dakota Cannabis News Recap 3/27/22
March 21 – Hartford dispensary to open in June
Hometown Budz (also known as Unity Rd.) hopes to be one of the first medical cannabis dispensaries to open in South Dakota when it begins operations this June. Located in Hartford, Hometown Budz recently broke ground on construction.
Keloland: “Medical cannabis dispensary breaks ground in Hartford”
Argus Leader: “Colorado-based marijuana dispensary Unity Rd to open first location in Hartford in 2022”
Sioux Metro: “Hartford SD, to break ground on first cannabis dispensary”
March 23 – South Dakota signs contract with Metrc
On March 23rd, Metrc announced that it has signed a government contract with South Dakota. Metrc is the country’s most acclaimed provider of cannabis regulatory systems and works with 19 other states. Metrc’s system “will help facilitate the South Dakota medical cannabis program's data collection and regulatory oversight, enabling licensed operators to easily track all activities impacting the status of a plant or the creation of cannabis-based products.” Metrc allows for complete transparency between state regulators and business operators to allow for a safe experience for customers.
Argus Leader: “South Dakota picks seed-to-sale tracker to monitor growth, sales of legal cannabis”
Black Hills Pioneer: “SD hires firm to track cannabis from seed to sales”
PR Newswire: “Metrc Announces Government Contract with the State of South Dakota”
March 25 – Governor Noem vetoes SB 151
On March 25, Governor Noem vetoed SB 151, a very modest record-clearing bill which passed both the South Dakota House and Senate this year.
SB 151 "would have automatically removed simple marijuana charges and convictions from public background records if the violation was more than five years old. The person also would have had to fulfill sentencing and probation requirements and have no subsequent arrests."
The Legislature could choose to override the veto of SB 151, but it will be difficult to get enough votes (two-thirds are required in each chamber).
Cannabis convictions (even for small amounts of possession) can affect opportunities relating to housing, employment, education, loans, and military service.
Argus Leader: “Gov. Kristi Noem blocks automatic removal of old marijuana charges from background checks”
Associated Press: “Noem Vetoes Bill Removing Pot Charges From Background Checks”
Dakota Free Press: “Noem Vetoes Automatic Removal of Class 1 Marijuana Misdemeanors from Public Record of Good Behavers”
March 25 – Lake Andes couple breaks ground on dispensary
Roy and DeRae Wade, a couple from Lake Andes and members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, are the co owners of the new Lake Andes dispensary, Indigenous Budz. Their dispensary is the first indigenous-owned dispensary approved by the state. The Wades are excited to provide medical cannabis to the area. Indigenous Budz will be located on Highway 281 near the Fort Randall Casino.
Yankton Daily: “Lake Andes Dispensary Breaks New Ground”