(Todd Epp – South Dakota Broadcasters Association) Today (Thursday), the Senate passed a bill defining which physical and mental ailments would qualify a patient to obtain state certification for medical marijuana.
The South Dakota Department of Health wants legislators to define the qualifying illnesses.
That is because they say they do not have the expertise to make those determinations.
Sen. Lee Schoenbeck from Watertown said he supports medical cannabis, but has reservations about the department’s request.
Sen. Erin Tobin, a nurse practitioner from Winner, said the changes will make the law better for patients and medical providers.
The measure passed 20 to 15.
It will now be assigned to a House committee.
