Panel may scrap South Dakota medical marijuana program for outright legalization

South Dakota’s new medical marijuana law could be scrapped and replaced with what’s being called a “compromise” that would legalize cannabis use for adults.

That’s the aim of draft legislation that will be considered Tuesday by a committee that spent the summer and fall studying “adult-use” marijuana policy.

“It’s about as close as we’re going to get to get something passed out of the committee,” said Rep. Hugh Bartels, a Watertown Republican and chairman of the Adult-Use Marijuana study committee.

Bartels’ bill, characterized as middle ground between the factions of the Legislature that oppose and support cannabis legalization, would overhaul cannabis policies on the books in South Dakota now and essentially repeal the state’s medical marijuana law that took effect July 1.

Specifically, his proposal would legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana flower and up to 22 grams of marijuana concentrate like waxes, oils and edibles for recreational use by anyone 21 years of age or older. It would also make the Department of Revenue the primary regulatory agency over commercial cannabis ventures in South Dakota like cultivation facilities and retail dispensaries, and it would prohibit personal grow operations. [Read more at Sioux Falls Argus Leader]