Rapid City medical marijuana businesses will now be allowed to transfer licenses between owners or locations, following a unanimous City Council vote. However, the city’s moratorium on new cannabis licenses—first enacted in 2024—remains in place after a proposal to repeal it fell short.
Although the Legal and Finance Committee previously recommended lifting the moratorium, the council opted instead for a modified resolution. Councilor Greg Strommen abstained from voting, while others voiced growing frustration over the city’s handling of medical marijuana.
Rapid City leads South Dakota in dispensary licenses, issuing one for every 5,000 residents—a total of 15. Nine licenses were awarded via lottery, while five tied to Puffy’s Dispensary remain in litigation over state-issued certificates.
Mayor Jason Salamun pledged to revisit the issue in September, warning the council, “You may not like the number of licenses I’m going to recommend.”
While public feedback ranged from skepticism to support, Councilor Lindsey Seachris (Ward 2) reminded attendees that medical marijuana became law via a voter-approved initiative in 2020.
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