South Dakota
Medical

South Dakota Cannabis Laws & Dispensary Compliance Guide

Last reviewed: June 14, 2026

Francine Whu Muhammad, JD
Reviewed byFrancine Whu Muhammad, JDSenior Director, Compliance & Enterprise Risk

Dutchie does not provide compliance advice. Merchants are responsible for their own compliance. External Dutchie compliance documentation may be updated from time to time and has been prepared for informational purposes only, is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or compliance advice. Merchants should consult their own tax, legal and compliance advisors to determine how best to operate within the cannabis industry.

Market Status
Medical
Traceability
Metrc
Regulator
South Dakota Department of Health

Market Type

South Dakota allows cannabis sales for registered qualifying patients only. The Medical Cannabis program in South Dakota is managed by the South Dakota Department of Health. 

Metrc & Inventory

South Dakota uses Metrc as its primary seed-to-sale tracking system. South Dakota has expressly prohibited integration with the state patient registry, so purchase limits are not tracked in any state system. The point of sale must enforce patient purchase limits internally. 

Purchase Limits

Patient purchase limitsMedical patients may purchase up to 3 oz (or an equivalent value of non-flower products) every 14 days. 
Cardholders under 21Cardholders under 21 years of age are not permitted to possess inhalable cannabis in South Dakota, per rule 44:90:02:16.01. 

Equivalencies

South Dakota has defined the following product amounts are equal to one ounce of usable cannabis (flower)::

  • 8 grams of concentrated cannabis in smokable form (net weight)
  • 8 grams of vaporizer pens or cartridges (net weight)
  • 5 grams of oils in oral dosage syringe, or capsule form (net weight)
  • 800mg of THC in edible form (excluding oils)
  • 12 fluid ounces of topical products (ointments, creams, or lotions)
  • 1 ounce of topical products (Dry plant material, or powder)
  • 800mg of THC in transdermal form (Patches)

Taxes

South Dakota does not impose a cannabis-specific tax. The standard 4.5% state sales tax plus applicable local sales tax apply to medical cannabis sales. 

Delivery

Delivery not yet promulgatedDelivery rules have not currently been promulgated in South Dakota

Things to Note

Patient dataSouth Dakota has strict provisions around patient information and data. Dispensary records and reporting may only refer to a patient’s state registry ID number, but may not capture any additional personal identifying information, unless the patient has provided consent to retain that information.
Online salesIn South Dakota, online sales are limited to previous customers. A patient must make a previous purchase at the dispensary before purchasing cannabis online from that dispensary.

State Resources

About the author
Roy Sherwood
Written by
Roy Sherwood
Senior Regulatory Compliance Analyst

Frequently asked questions

What type of cannabis market is South Dakota?
South Dakota is a Medical cannabis market.
Who regulates cannabis in South Dakota?
Cannabis in South Dakota is regulated by South Dakota Department of Health.
What cannabis traceability system does South Dakota use?
South Dakota uses Metrc as its cannabis traceability system.
What are the cannabis purchase limits in South Dakota?
Medical patients may purchase up to 3 oz (or an equivalent value of non-flower products) every 14 days. Cardholders under 21 years of age are not permitted to possess inhalable cannabis in South Dakota, per rule 44:90:02:16.01.
How is cannabis taxed in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not impose a cannabis-specific tax. The standard 4.5% state sales tax plus applicable local sales tax apply to medical cannabis sales.
Is cannabis delivery allowed in South Dakota?
Delivery rules have not currently been promulgated in South Dakota