Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has signed legislation (SB 24) into law preserving the ability of qualified patients to home cultivate limited quantities of cannabis. Voters in November 2020 overwhelmingly decided in favor of a ballot measure (Measure 26) permitting qualified patients to possess, grow, and purchase medical cannabis — a measure which Gov. Noem opposed. Since that time, on two occasions, House lawmakers voted in favor of legislation to eliminate patients’ home cultivation rights. “Permitting limited home cultivation provides patients with the ability to have reliable, affordable, and consistent access to their medicine,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Seventy percent of voters approved this right at the ballot box and it is reassuring to see that a majority of lawmakers, and the Governor, ultimately decided to respect the voters’ decision.” Senate Bill 24, as amended in the conference committee, permits registered patients to cultivate a total of four marijuana plants (two mature, two immature) and to legally possess the harvest from those plants.
NORML, 03/20/2022 20:00:00