To get a medical marijuana card in South Dakota, you need a qualifying medical condition, a certification from a licensed practitioner, and a $75 application submitted through the state’s online portal. The process starts with your doctor, not with you. Your practitioner must first create a patient certification in the state system before you can even begin your application.
Qualifying Medical Conditions
South Dakota’s medical cannabis law covers a specific set of conditions. You qualify if you have one of the following:
- Cancer (when associated with severe pain, nausea, vomiting, or wasting)
- HIV/AIDS
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy and seizures
- PTSD
Beyond those named conditions, the law also covers any chronic or debilitating disease that produces one or more of these symptoms: severe pain, severe nausea (excluding pregnancy-related nausea), seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, or cachexia (a wasting syndrome involving significant weight and muscle loss). This broader category means conditions like fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, or severe arthritis could qualify if your practitioner determines they cause one of those listed symptoms.
Step 1: Get Your Practitioner Certification
This is the part most people don’t expect. You cannot start your own application. Your licensed practitioner has to initiate the process by logging into the state’s medical cannabis portal and creating a patient certification on your behalf. This certification confirms your qualifying condition and includes the provider’s signature.
Schedule an appointment with a South Dakota practitioner who is willing to certify medical cannabis patients. Not every doctor participates, so you may need to call ahead or look for clinics that specifically advertise cannabis evaluations. During the visit, bring any relevant medical records that document your condition. If your practitioner agrees you qualify, they’ll submit the certification through the state portal, which triggers an automated email to you with login credentials.
Step 2: Complete Your Online Application
Once your practitioner submits the certification, you’ll receive an email from the state system (check your spam folder if it doesn’t appear in your inbox). That email contains a temporary password. Head to medcannabisapplication.sd.gov, log in, and create a permanent password.
From there, you’ll fill out the application and upload two things: a valid photo ID and a passport-quality photo of yourself. Accepted forms of ID include a South Dakota driver’s license, passport, tribal identification card, or South Dakota student ID card. Your practitioner’s information will already be populated in the system from their certification, so you won’t need to enter it manually.
The application fee is $75. If your household’s gross monthly income falls below 130% of the federal poverty level, you can apply for a reduced fee. You’ll need to upload proof of income, which varies depending on your situation: recent pay stubs if you’re employed, your most recent federal tax return if you’re self-employed, bank statements if you’re unemployed, or benefit letters if you receive Social Security, veterans’ benefits, unemployment, or similar assistance.
Applications for Minor Patients
Patients under 18 can qualify for a medical cannabis card, but the process involves additional steps. A custodial or legal parent must complete an attestation as part of the application, confirming they consent to and will oversee the minor’s use of medical cannabis. Two parents or legal guardians living in the same household can share the designated caregiver role.
How Much You Can Purchase
South Dakota uses a 14-day rolling purchase limit. Cardholders can buy up to three ounces of cannabis flower within any 14-day window. Dispensaries track your purchases in the state system, so amounts you buy are subtracted from your three-ounce total and reset on a rolling basis. You don’t need to wait for a specific calendar date to “refill” your limit.
Renewing Your Card
Your medical cannabis card is valid for one year. The state sends a reminder email 45 days before it expires, giving you time to schedule a renewal appointment with your practitioner. You’ll need a new certification from your provider, including their signature and your qualifying condition, dated within the last 12 months. The renewal goes through the same online portal. Don’t let your card lapse, because purchasing from a dispensary with an expired card isn’t legal, and there’s no grace period built into the system.
What to Expect for Total Costs
Budget for two expenses: the practitioner visit and the state fee. The $75 application fee goes to the South Dakota Department of Health (less if you qualify for the low-income reduction). The doctor’s visit is a separate cost that varies by provider. Some cannabis-focused clinics charge between $150 and $250 for an evaluation, while your existing physician may bill it as a standard office visit covered partially by insurance. The certification itself, however, is not typically covered by insurance since cannabis remains federally unregulated. Expect to spend these same amounts again each year at renewal.