
Patient help · South Dakota
Medical cannabis questions? Start here.
Practical guides for South Dakota patients and families: renew a card, find alternatives when access is interrupted, contact the right person, and understand your rights and their limits.
Official shortcuts: Apply or renew · Find a licensed dispensary · Call DOH
Helping someone else? Caregiver registration · Pickup · Care facilities · Federal questions
Patient Answer Finder
What do you need help with? Tap or click a question to see your next step. Tap it again to close it.
My card is expiring or has expired
Check the expiration date on your card. Contact your certifying practitioner, then follow the renewal checklist.
I need my first medical cannabis card
Start with the Department of Health’s patient instructions and speak with a certifying practitioner about eligibility.
My dispensary closed or my product is gone
Check the state’s dispensary list, then call before traveling to confirm hours and availability. Ask your care team about treatment changes.
I am helping a parent or someone else
Choose the part of the family guide that fits your question. It explains caregiver registration, pickup, care facilities and federal questions.
I have a question about my legal rights
Start with the guide for work, housing, travel and federal-law questions. For a specific dispute or deadline, contact an attorney.
I need to speak to someone
For card, application or account help, contact South Dakota’s Office of Medical Cannabis. For treatment or side-effect questions, contact your care team.
South Dakota · Links checked November 4, 2026. General information; individual legal and medical questions need professional advice.
Report an outdated link or answer. Please omit private patient information.
Open the finder on its own page →
Print a checklist: Renewal (1-page PDF) · Caregiver & pickup (1-page PDF)
Written for patients and families.

Ruthie’s Dispensary Got Its DEA Registration. Its Supplier Question Matters Across South Dakota.
Ruthie’s Dispensary in Wagner, the first South Dakota dispensary to tell WeedPress it has received a federal DEA registration, asked WeedPress a question facing DEA-registered and timely-applicant dispensaries across the state before DEA’s Nov. 29 supply-chain date: which suppliers qualify? Here is what the federal rule, DEA’s guidance and South Dakota law say, what attorneys are telling operators, and what no one can yet answer from public records.
November 2, 2026
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Ongoing series · SD DEA Supply Chain
Who can legally supply South Dakota dispensaries by Nov. 29?
DEA’s guidance says timely applicants are expected to have compliant supply chains by Nov. 29, 2026, dealing only with DEA registrants or other timely applicants. WeedPress is working to confirm, from public records and from the businesses themselves, which producers can legally supply South Dakota’s dispensaries, and will report each answer in this series as it is confirmed.
Latest: Ruthie’s Dispensary Got Its DEA Registration. Its Supplier Question Matters Across South Dakota. (Nov. 2, 2026)
📖 NEW TO WEEDPRESS?
Start Here. Follow the Law. Examine the Record.
WeedPress has documented cannabis law and policy since 2010. Explore original investigations, federal compliance analysis, government records, and the decisions affecting medical cannabis patients.
Federal law · South Dakota · Primary documents · Independent reporting
Federal Compliance Research Desk
Our core analyses of how federal and South Dakota cannabis law fit together, one per question.
Federal Schedule III
Schedule III Changed the Federal Rules. Here Are 26 Questions South Dakota Still Has to Answer.
DEA registration · 21 C.F.R. 1307.31
State licensing · ARSD 44:90
South Dakota’s Revised Medical Cannabis Rules Take Effect Nov. 5
Patient protections · SDCL 34-20G
DEA’s New Transfer Warning Collides With South Dakota’s Caregiver and Patient-Transfer Laws
AG opinion · State scheduling
Full Compliance Matrix ↗ · Agency Accountability Tracker ↗ · Research Collections ↗ · Glossary ↗ · Establishment Status ↗
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Tools for patients & advocates

Impatiently Patient
coming soon
What We’re Tracking: Next 60 Days
Last updated November 4, 2026
IA · Medical Cannabidiol Board meeting (virtual, 10 a.m.) (tentative)
SD · Looking ahead · 2027 legislative session convenes (second Tuesday of January)
Each item links to the official source. Dates can change; check the source before you go. Got a date we missed? weedpressnewstips@gmail.com
Ongoing investigation · Public records desk
605 Cannabis: Five Years of Public Records
Civil dockets, certified hearing transcripts, Department of Health enforcement filings, county property and permit records, legislative oversight votes, and statewide dispensary reporting examining South Dakota’s highest-profile medical cannabis cultivator.
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Latest featured report in this series

Court Records Detail 605 Cannabis Funding Dispute, ‘Shell’ Allegation and Named Investors
Court filings in Minnesota and Lincoln County show the Worthing medical cannabis company was a party to two money disputes in two years. In one, 605 Cannabis and its investors alleged that promised outside money never…
Earlier reporting in the series
Have documents, court filings, or firsthand industry knowledge? Email weedpressnewstips@gmail.com
Follow the story
Independent oversight of South Dakota’s medical cannabis program: public records, the law, and the Legislature’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee.
About · Editorial Policy · Public Compliance Log
How WeedPress verifies: claims tied to primary records, a fair right of reply, unconfirmed items labeled, corrections noted. Read how we check →
Have a document or a tip? Email weedpressnewstips@gmail.com
MEET A SOUTH DAKOTA GROWER
Rare Earth by Pitbull Acres
Who grew the flower in your jar? Rare Earth is the cannabis brand of Pitbull Acres, a South Dakota cultivator. The company describes a hands-on approach to small batches, with attention to soil, growing conditions and the time spent curing each harvest.
Its published lineup includes Berry Pie, Super Silver Haze, Space Sugar and Sunday Driver. The company also connects its work with support for dog rescue—a part of the farm’s story beyond the grow room.
A top recommendation: Top South Dakota cannabis connoisseurs have tried the Rare Earth product line and are blown away with flavor and effects. It’s a must-see and a top recommendation for anyone exploring South Dakota’s medical cannabis products.
For patients: Use the retailer finder, then call ahead to check the current selection. Pitbull Acres says it supplies dispensaries rather than selling directly to patients. Ask the dispensary for the batch’s THC/CBD label and testing information; a cultivar name alone cannot tell you how a product will affect you.
Disclosure: WeedPress is not paid for this recommendation and is not affiliated with Rare Earth or Pitbull Acres. This recommendation is based on multiple user reports provided to WeedPress.
Company information: Pitbull Acres’s story. Reviewed November 4, 2026.

WeedPress Recommended Attorneys
Unpaid editorial recommendations; WeedPress receives nothing. Before hiring anyone, independently verify the attorney’s current bar license, availability, and whether they handle your specific type of matter.
Vicente LLP
Brian Vicente, founding partner
Colorado · offices in 12 states
Cannabis, hemp and psychedelics law: licensing, compliance, corporate, litigation and policy.
Neil Rockind
Rockind Law
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Criminal defense and expungement, including marijuana-related charges.
Joseph Tully
Tully & Weiss Attorneys at Law
Martinez, California
Cannabis trial defense; State Bar–certified Criminal Law Specialist.
Ryan Kolbeck
Kolbeck Law Office
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Marijuana defense: possession, trafficking and record-concealment cases.
Colin Murphy
GRL Law (Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm)
West Des Moines, Iowa
Marijuana defense; counsels Iowa hemp and CBD businesses.
Alfredo Parrish
Parrish Kruidenier
Des Moines, Iowa
Criminal defense, civil rights, personal injury and wrongful death, employment and labor law, and appeals.
Thomas Gallagher
Gallagher Criminal Defense
Minnesota
Marijuana defense is a focus practice; Minnesota NORML board member.
Scheril Murray Powell
Scheril Murray Powell, P.A.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Agricultural, cannabis, dietary supplement and trade attorney.
Rick L. Olson
Law Offices of Rick L. Olson
Des Moines, Iowa
Attorney in private practice in Des Moines; Iowa state representative (House District 39).
Sonny D. Walter
Walter Law Office
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Criminal defense, including DUI/DWI, drug, assault, theft and sex-crime charges.
Luke P. Henderson
Fitzgerald, Vetter, Temple, Bartell & Henderson
Norfolk, Nebraska
General practice including criminal law, family law and personal injury cases.
Dion J. Custis
Law Offices of Dion J. Custis, P.C.
Cheyenne, Wyoming · Fort Collins, Colorado
Criminal defense and marijuana law in Wyoming and Colorado; former Wyoming senior assistant public defender.
Tribal & Indian law (South Dakota)
Seth C. Pearman
Peebles Bergin Schulte & Robinson LLP
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Cannabis and tribal law; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Attorney General for over 12 years.
Cedar Tree Native Law LLP
Offices in Rapid City and Omaha
Rapid City, South Dakota
Tribal sovereignty, governance and economic development; cannabis compliance and licensing.
Robin Zephier
Zephier & LaFleur, P.C.
Rapid City, South Dakota
Native American-owned firm; Indian and tribal law in tribal, state and federal courts.
Steven D. Sandven
Steven D. Sandven Law Office, P.C.
Beresford, South Dakota
Has represented Indian tribes since 1997; the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s first Attorney General.
Terry Pechota
Pechota Law Office
Rapid City, South Dakota
Indian law, criminal defense and civil rights; admitted to several tribal courts.
HPS Law Firm
Heidepriem, Purtell, Siegel & Hinrichs, LLP
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Tribal court litigation and American Indian civil rights cases.
Joseph R. Lux
Costello Porter Hill Heisterkamp Bushnell & Carpenter LLP
Rapid City, South Dakota
Extensive tribal court practice, including tribal supreme courts.
Mario Gonzalez
Gonzalez Law Office
Rapid City, South Dakota
Longtime Oglala Sioux Tribe attorney; treaty land claims and land restoration.
Stacy R. Hegge
Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore LLP
Pierre, South Dakota
General practice including tribal law; admitted to three Sioux tribal courts.
May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP
Tribal law practice
Pierre, South Dakota
Appears in the Rosebud, Lower Brule and Cheyenne River Sioux tribal courts.
Zachary W. Peterson
Richardson Law Firm
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Indian law; admitted to the Cheyenne River, Sisseton-Wahpeton and Standing Rock tribal courts.
Melissa E. Neville
Bantz, Gosch & Cremer, LLC
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Family law and civil litigation; admitted to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Court.

Patient Questions & Community
Have a question about medical cannabis? Ask here, share your experience, or help another patient or family find an answer. Be polite, protect your privacy, and link to reliable sources when you can.
South Dakota: patients behind the numbers
20,040 approved patient cards · 219 approved practitioners
DOH monthly update: October 1, 2026.
631 caregivers reported for September 2026. Patient cards increased 21.6% from October 1, 2025 (16,477) to October 1, 2026 (20,040), calculated from DOH’s table.
These are dated program figures, not live counts. Practitioners approved by the program and providers counted in monthly activity reports are different measures.
Check the official DOH data → · View the current establishment list →
Sources reviewed November 4, 2026. Figures update when this box is reviewed; this is not an automatic data feed.
THE PATIENT ECONOMY · WEEDPRESS DATA DESK
A bigger cannabis market. A better deal for patients?
Three ways to read the numbers: participation, the medical market, and your own budget.
1. More South Dakotans are in the program

20,040 approved cards. Up 10.6% since January. DOH’s January–October 2026 updates show a growing patient registry. That matters when officials consider licensing, testing capacity and access. It does not tell us whether patients can afford products or reach a dispensary.
Source: South Dakota DOH monthly data → Monthly update dates are not identical. These are program-approved card counts, not a survey of cannabis use.
2. Industry growth can leave the medical channel behind

Montana’s total estimated sales rose 2.0%; its medical-channel sales fell 15.7%. Compare January–September 2025 with the same nine months in 2026: medical sales fell from $28.64 million to $24.14 million, while adult-use sales rose from $215.75 million to $225.10 million.
The lesson for South Dakota: ask for medical-specific numbers when someone cites a booming national market. Montana illustrates how the channels can diverge; it does not predict South Dakota’s results. These dollars alone cannot tell us whether the change came from prices, purchases, or customers switching channels.
Source: Montana Department of Revenue estimated monthly sales → WeedPress summed each January–September period. Comparisons use the same months to limit seasonal distortion; rounding may affect totals.
3. Buying medical cannabis for the first time? Start here.
You do not need to know the slang, pick the strongest product, or walk in with a shopping list. Tell the staff you are new and ask them to explain the label before you buy. Start with what you and your clinician are trying to address, the way you prefer to use a product, and your budget.
Grams tell you how much product. Milligrams tell you how much THC or CBD.
| What you hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| A gram (g) | A measure of product weight. 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams of material—not 1,000 milligrams of THC. |
| An eighth / a quarter / a half | Common flower-package shorthand: about 3.5 g / 7 g / 14 g. Check the actual labeled weight. |
| An ounce | About 28.35 g; cannabis packages often use 28 g. This is a weight conversion, not a purchase-limit statement. |
| Milligrams (mg) of THC or CBD | The amount of that cannabinoid. Ask whether the number is per piece, per serving, per milliliter, or for the entire package. |
| Percent THC | A concentration, not a serving size. For example, 20% is about 200 mg per gram of material; it does not mean you absorb 200 mg. |
Read the whole label: Ten pieces with 5 mg THC each contain 50 mg THC in the package. A bottle’s total THC is not necessarily the amount in one dropper. Ask staff to show you both the package total and the amount in the labeled serving.
What are the different products?
| Product | Plain-English explanation / what to ask |
|---|---|
| Flower and pre-rolls | Dried cannabis, loose or rolled. Ask about weight, ingredients, and the intended method of use. Smoking exposes the lungs to harmful substances. |
| Vape cartridges and disposable vapes | Cannabis extract used with a compatible device. Ask whether a battery is included, how it works, and what the ingredients are. Vaping also carries risks. |
| Gummies, other edibles and capsules | Products that are swallowed. Ask for THC and CBD per piece—not just the bag total. Effects are delayed and can last longer than inhaled products. |
| Oils and tinctures | Liquid preparations sold with a dropper or other dispenser. Ask for mg per mL or per measured serving and the intended route; products are not interchangeable. |
| Topicals | Creams, balms and other products applied to skin. Ask whether it is a topical or a transdermal product and what the label says about its use. |
| Concentrates, including RSO | Concentrated extracts. Ask about cannabinoid content, intended use and accurate measurement. A small amount can contain substantial THC. |
Product availability and permitted forms differ by state. This is a vocabulary guide, not a statement that every product is available or lawful in every program.
Rick Simpson oil (RSO): understand the label before buying
RSO is the name commonly used for a thick, concentrated cannabis extract, often sold in a syringe-style dispenser. It is not the same thing as a diluted dropper oil, and the dispenser does not mean it is for injection. The name alone does not establish a uniform strength or formulation.
If you are interested in RSO, ask: How many milligrams of THC and CBD are in this container? How do I measure the amount my clinician recommends? What route does this specific label permit? Do not assume that an oil intended to be swallowed is suitable for a vape device. Have your clinician or pharmacist check medication interactions, especially with concentrated products.
RSO is often promoted online in connection with cancer. Cannabis has not been shown to cure cancer. Discuss symptom relief and treatment questions with the treating clinician; do not replace or delay cancer treatment because of an RSO claim.
Use this opening line at the counter
“I’m new to this. My clinician and I are considering cannabis for ___. I prefer ___, and my budget is ___. Can you show me the THC and CBD per serving, how this product is measured, and when its effects may begin?”
Ask for written instructions you can take home. Swallowed cannabis may take hours to reach its full effect; taking more because nothing seems to be happening can lead to overconsumption. Work out a starting amount and waiting interval with your clinician. Do not drive while impaired, and keep products away from children and pets.
Health references: Health Canada: understanding THC/CBD labels; using a medical cannabis product; medication interactions; Illinois health advisory report: RSO; CDC: cannabis and cancer. Canadian health references explain product concepts; their packaging laws are not South Dakota law. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
CANNABIS & SACRED TRADITION
More than a product: the sacred-anointing connection
For some people, cannabis belongs in a conversation about reverence, ritual and sacrament as well as medicine. Genesis Wellness sells Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil in South Dakota.
Genesis Farms’s complete product description, reproduced verbatim:
Introducing Genesis Wellness Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Wellness
Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil, also known as Kaneh Bosm, is a unique blend of ingredients as written in the Bible in Exodus 30:23-25. Crafted from myrrh, cinnamon, RSO (Rick Simpson Oil), cassia, and olive oil, this versatile tincture offers both edible and topical uses.
The name Kaneh Bosm has intrigued scholars and herbalists for centuries, often believed to be a reference to a powerful plant used in sacred anointing oils described in Exodus 30:23. While the full extent of its origins remains a matter of interpretation, the significance of this blend as part of ancient Christian rituals continues to inspire modern wellness practices.
How to Use Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil
Whether used as an edible or topical oil, Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil offers a smooth, mild cinnamon flavor with a subtle hint of pine.
Topical Use: Apply directly to the skin for a calming, soothing experience.
Edible Use: Add to your daily routine for a balanced, enjoyable experience.
Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil offers a unique way to integrate the wisdom of ancient biblical traditions into your modern wellness routine.
A Historical Legacy
In Exodus 30:23, the Bible describes the creation of a sacred anointing oil, crafted from select, high-quality ingredients for use in rituals and ceremonies. This oil symbolizes purification, sanctity, and devotion. While its spiritual significance holds great meaning for many, the natural ingredients have long been appreciated for their aromatic and soothing qualities.
Why Choose Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil?
Genesis Wellness has crafted this product with respect for the sacred origins of Exodus 30:23, blending traditional ingredients with modern wellness applications. Whether for daily use or as part of a personal ritual, Exodus 30:23 Holy Oil offers a way to incorporate these timeless ingredients into your lifestyle.
Source: Genesis Farms — Exodus Holy Oil. The description above is the seller’s text, including its historical and wellness claims.
Why feature it here? A plant can carry personal and spiritual meaning that a price tag cannot capture. People who regard cannabis as a sacrament deserve room to discuss that belief respectfully. Everyone is welcome in that conversation, whether religious, spiritual or neither.
See Genesis’s product description and biblical explanation → · Join the patient conversation →
National scale, sources and what these numbers leave out
For national context, BDSA’s October 2025 forecast put 2025 U.S. regulated sales at $31.5 billion, including $7.6 billion medical and $23.9 billion adult-use. This is a historical forecast benchmark, not final audited sales or a current live total.
NewLake’s annual report quoting the BDSA forecast · BDSA forecast analysis.
Sales are revenue, not profit, tax receipts, patient savings or treatment outcomes. Neither chart measures those outcomes. Household examples are arithmetic illustrations. Sources reviewed November 4, 2026; charts and calculations by WeedPress. Updates require source review; no live-feed claim is made.
Are prices or travel affecting your access? Talk with the patient community →
Help WeedPress find answers
Patients see the gaps first. Tell WeedPress about an access problem, suggest a reporting question, point us toward a public record, or offer professional expertise. Your experience can help shape the next investigation or patient guide.
For public discussion: ask the patient community. For a reporting lead or offer to help: use the private contact form below. Submissions go to WeedPress, not an agency or attorney. Sending a lead does not guarantee a reply or publication.
Send a lead, question, or offer to help
Share only what is needed to explain the issue. Do not include medical records, card numbers, Social Security numbers or other people’s private information. Ask about a suitable way to provide sensitive documents first. This is not an emergency, legal-services or medical-treatment request channel.
TIME 4 HEMP · LISTEN ON DEMAND
Take Time 4 Hemp
Press Play for The American Hemp Roots, an episode from Casper Leitch’s Time 4 Hemp podcast. This is an on-demand recording, not a live broadcast.
The previous live-stream address was returning an error. This player uses the podcast’s official MP3 instead. If your browser will not play it here, use the official podcast page above. Open that page in another tab to keep listening while browsing WeedPress.






















































































