South Dakota’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary to Close in Early December
Unity Rd., the state’s first licensed medical cannabis dispensary, will be shutting its doors on December 7. The dispensary, located in Hartford, opened in July 2022, but struggled to overcome the challenges of the cannabis industry in South Dakota.
In a Facebook post, the dispensary’s owners, Adam Jorgensen and B.J. Olson, cited the state’s inability to establish an effective cannabis program for its residents as the reason for the closure. Despite their efforts to support the cannabis movement in South Dakota, they believe it is time to step away from the industry.
The dispensary’s closure is attributed to the difficulties patients face in accessing medical marijuana cards. According to Olson, it is “literally finding a needle in a haystack” to find a doctor who is willing to prescribe a medical marijuana card. Only 12% of the state’s physicians are licensed to prescribe medical marijuana cards, making it hard for patients to access the treatment they need.
The owners of Unity Rd. are not the only ones experiencing difficulties. Other dispensaries in the state are also struggling to stay afloat due to the lack of support from the state. Olson believes that the only way the cannabis industry can survive in South Dakota is if recreational marijuana is legalized or if the state eases up on its restrictions.
The closure of Unity Rd. is a setback for the medical marijuana industry in South Dakota, which has been struggling to gain traction since its legalization in 2021. The state’s voters recently rejected a ballot measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana, leaving the industry in a precarious position.
