Many people prefer to cultivate their own cannabis, but several states with legal weed still outlaw it. Those that do permit it typically have rules of engagement, like strict plant counts or registration. Officials in one unlikely state are seeing home grow numbers explode – but some regulators believe there should be more oversight.
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Health department representatives in South Dakota report that home grow licenses have increased by over 1,000 percent in the last four years. Voters in the Mount Rushmore State legalized medical marijuana in 2020; there are more than a dozen qualifying conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The state’s medical cannabis law gives patients the right to have four plants at home: two can be in flowering while the other two must be immature. The fee to add home grow to a medical marijuana license is $20, on top of the card’s $75 registration fee.
To be approved for home cultivation, patients must submit documentation that proves compliance with state rules. This includes photos of the grow room and locks, as well as a map of where the room is on a property.
Some South Dakota officials believe the home grow rules need to be tightened, citing concerns about the current levels of oversight.
“The lack of regulation in this area is a bit concerning for us,” Whitney Brunner, administrator of the state’s medical cannabis office, said in a meeting with lawmakers.
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The number of medical cannabis patients in South Dakota grew 30 percent year over year. Roughly 70 percent of patients cite chronic pain as their qualifying condition.
Many states with legal medical or adult-use cannabis restrict or outlaw home cultivation, including Washington, Florida, and New Jersey. While South Dakota’s plant count is relatively small, the state’s size and the rural nature of many communities may make home grow a valuable alternative for some patients and could explain the jump in licenses.
