What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Card in South Dakota (2024)

How Many Medical Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Treatment in South Dakota?

In South Dakota, there are 13 chronic or debilitating medical conditions that qualify patients for medical marijuana treatment.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in South Dakota 2024

Medical marijuana cards are issued to eligible patients for the following qualifying chronic or debilitating diseases in South Dakota:

• AIDS or HIV positive status
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Cancer or its treatment (that is accompanied by chronic or severe pain, cachexia or severe wasting, or nausea or severe vomiting)
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Glaucoma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In South Dakota, qualifying conditions also include chronic or debilitating medical conditions, or treatments, that produce one or more of the following symptoms:

• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Debilitating or severe pain
• Persistent or severe muscle spasms
• Seizures
• Severe nausea

Does South Dakota Add New Qualifying Conditions to its Medical Marijuana Program?

In 2023, the South Dakota Senate Bill 1 added the eight diseases to the state’s list of qualifying conditions. The original text of the South Dakota medical marijuana law only identified the five symptomatic conditions as qualifying for medical marijuana access in the state. The public process of submitting a petition in order to add a new qualifying condition was equally revoked by the senate bill.

Does South Dakota Allow Physicians to Recommend Medical Cannabis for Non-Qualifying Conditions?

No. A South Dakota physician can only recommend medical cannabis for debilitating conditions named in the state’s list of qualifying conditions.

Do You Need a Doctor’s Recommendation for Medical Marijuana in South Dakota?

Yes. A patient in South Dakota must make an in-person appointment with a state-licensed medical practitioner to obtain a medical cannabis certification. Before issuing a written certification for medical marijuana treatment, a licensed physician must determine if a condition is debilitating. Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses who are licensed to prescribe drugs to humans are the only practitioners who can recommend medical cannabis in South Dakota.

Who Qualifies for a Medical Marijuana Card in South Dakota?

South Dakota issues medical marijuana cards to both residents and non-residents. Besides having a current diagnosis of a qualifying condition and a written certification from a state-licensed practitioner, a South Dakota resident applying for a medical marijuana card in South Dakota must also be 18 years or older. Minors can also apply for MMJ cards in South Dakota. However, they must obtain the consent of their parents or legal guardians.

To obtain a South Dakota medical marijuana card, a non-resident must be:

• Diagnosed with debilitating conditions
• Have been issued a valid registry identification card in their home state, and
• Have lived in South Dakota for less than 45 days