South Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will continue its work for at least another year after a Senate panel rejected a bill to repeal it. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 4–3 earlier this week to block the repeal, though supporters are attempting to force the bill to the Senate floor next week. The House previously passed the measure 41–26.
Current law requires an 11‑member oversight committee drawn from lawmakers and appointed stakeholders to meet twice yearly and make recommendations to the Legislature and Department of Health. The medical marijuana program itself would remain in place even if the committee were eliminated.
Rep. Tim Goodwin, who sponsored the repeal bill, argued the committee is no longer necessary now that the program is established. Opponents — including the South Dakota Catholic Conference, the Sheriffs’ Association, and the committee’s chair, Rep. Josephine Garcia — said the panel provides needed oversight, especially amid ongoing concerns about regulations and cannabis‑related mental health effects.
South Dakota currently has more than 18,000 medical marijuana cardholders.
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