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South Dakota Legislative Panel Recommends Tighter Regulations On Medical Marijuana And Hemp Products

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2 months ago

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“This commission, in my opinion, has only made it harder for patients to get access to medical cannabis.”

The A rift between a South Dakota oversight board and the state’s medical marijuana industry It unfolded in Pierre on Tuesday, when the commission passed 11 motions, some of which called for stricter regulations.

The motions were not made public prior to the meeting, and the committee did not take public comment on individual motions. The committee acted on the motions, with four of the 11 members of the group not present.

The intentions of the Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee to propose and pass some of the motions were unclear. The motions were not introduced as formal proposals to change the rules or as bills for the legislative session, which begins in January.

The themes of the motions varied widely and included recommendations for stricter regulation of the medical marijuana industry, and intoxicating products sold outside the industry in convenience stores and statements of support or recommendations on smoke shops and other topics.

“I think these are just motions, right?” said Sen. Lauren Nelson, R-Yankton, a committee member. “So some of these motions that passed today may never be heard again. Some of these motions may become bills that one of us, someone else in the Legislature, can carry, and then we can have our debate.”

Medical marijuana industry lobbyist Jeremiah Murphy asked that the minutes reflect that no prior public notice of the motions was given and no public comment was made on the individual motions.

“If you want to just call these ‘motions’, that’s fine,” Murphy said, “But the key is that they’re not considered anything like legislation because they weren’t published beforehand. The bill or resolution has to be published before the hearing.”

The votes ended a combative meeting that was similar in tone to the commission’s previous meeting two weeks ago. That earlier meeting drew industry complaints about a guest speaker list that presented mostly negative views on marijuana.

of the committee membership It consists of four members of parliament and seven non-legislators, including members of the medical, counseling, law enforcement and patient communities. The committee members missing Tuesday were all nonlegislators: Francine Arneson, Kristi Palmer, Andrew Schock and Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the commission took public comments from individuals, each limited to two minutes.

Kittrick Jeffries, of Puffy’s Dispensary in Rapid City, said the panel “was clarifying issues that voters decided five years ago.” South Dakota voters legalized medical marijuana in 2020, and the state implemented the program in 2022. There are 17,137 sick card holders in the state.

“This commission, in my view, has only made it harder for patients to get access to medical cannabis,” Jeffries said.

Emmett Reistroffer, with Genesis Farms Cannabis Company, called the panel a “show committee” and questioned the motivation of Rep. Josephine Garcia, R-Watertown, who said she sponsored unsuccessful legislation earlier this year to repeal the state’s medical marijuana program.

“I don’t think there’s any business running an oversight committee on a program that you publicly opposed in the last legislative session,” Reistroffer said. “Of course you don’t like what I have to say, but I have two minutes. I’m a citizen of the state of South Dakota.”

Because of this, Garcia silenced Reistroffer, but then turned him off.

“You can’t silence a member of the public,” Reistroffer said breaking the silence. The action “further reinforces that it is a show committee.”

Garcia was silent again.

“The reason they gave that knight was for a lot of reasons,” Garcia said. He said they had “things online that were defaming me or what they were doing to me.”

He added: “I think I’ve been fair, more than fair, and it’s just a shame.”

In further public comment, Rep. Travis Ismay, R-Newell, who is not a member of the committee, complained that a state health inspector was seen hugging an industry representative outside the chamber. Ismay was the lead sponsor of the Garcia-sponsored bill to repeal the medical marijuana program, and previously tried to put a repeal initiative on the ballot.

“I don’t think they’re that reliable,” Ismay said of the industry in general.

Health Department Secretary Melissa Magstadt responded that no Health Department inspectors were present at the meeting. Ismay returned to the microphone, saying he “maybe misspoke or something,” claiming that he misidentified the people he saw.

Genesis Farms lobbyist Mitch Richter pointed to a previous board meeting in which Garcia, a physician, said a former patient of his used artificial intelligence to falsify documents to obtain medical marijuana, buy 3 ounces and sell them for $10,000 a week.

Richter said the allegations “do not hold water.”

“If you make $10,000 on 3 ounces of marijuana, I want to talk to you,” said Richter, who also said the commission should be repealed.

Reistroffer told the South Dakota Searchlight that 3 ounces of medical marijuana typically sell for around $600.

Garcia repeatedly defended the commission and himself, saying the panel was still in its oversight mandate and that the actions taken were “just motions.”

“For those who were disrespectful, shame on you,” he said.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Vivent Biosignals & Green Laniel join forces to bring plant-driven agriculture to the US

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14 hours ago

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January 17, 2026

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Vivent Biosignals and Green Laniel Consulting have announced a partnership to accelerate plant-driven irrigation and irrigation in key U.S. agricultural markets. Green Laniel Consulting is a US-focused provider of agronomic solutions led by Mauricio Manotas.

By combining Vivent’s ability to decode plant biosignals in real-time using plant biosensors, machine learning and AI with Green Laniel’s deep experience in agronomy, grower operations and US market access, the partnership allows growers to make decisions based on what really matters: how the plant itself is responding.

© Vivent Biosignals

The partnership will cover a variety of crops and production systems, initially plant-driven irrigation and greenhouses for perennial crops, including potatoes, directly guided by plant feedback.

“By combining Vivint’s plant-level intelligence with Green Laniel’s strong presence and agronomic leadership in the US, we are enabling a new generation of plant-driven farming systems. This partnership helps growers improve yields and quality while significantly increasing resource efficiency and sustainability.” says Mauricio Manotas, Green Laniel Consulting.

For more information:
Vivent Biosignals
Tel.: +41 79 5114627
Email: (email protected)
https://vivent-biosignals.com/



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Indiana Lawmakers Approve Bill To Restrict And Regulate Hemp THC Products

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14 hours ago

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January 17, 2026

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“In India, we would like some certainty about these products so that those who manufacture and sell them know what our laws are.”

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle

Indiana lawmakers want state legislation to join the recently enacted federal ban on intoxicating and synthetic hemp products to counter the growing delta-8 industry.

Lengthy and complex legislation would also regulate less potent products that pass statutory muster.

But, “there will be no demand” for products below the proposed threshold, said Justin Swanson, representing the Midwest Hemp Council and 3Chi, a THC products retailer.

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.

Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, admitted to the committee that he would prefer to “wipe all these things off the planet, period,” but that his proposal is “whatever is possible.”

His Senate Bill 250 would mimic Congress’s shutdown of what Freeman described as the “Farm Bill loophole,” referring to 2018 legislation that defined legal hemp as any part of the plant that contains less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight. That definition allowed products containing delta-8, THCA and other intoxicating cannabinoids to proliferate, including in Indiana.

A federal funding law passed in November specifies that all types of THC count. It also limits THC products to just 0.4 milligrams per container, and completely bans those made in labs.

“I think (that’s) what the federal government wanted when they passed the Farm Bill in 2018; I think that’s what everybody had in mind when they copied that language here in Indiana,” said Chris Daniels, chief traffic safety resource attorney for the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. “The target was very low potency THC.”

An industry group supported the changes.

“It is imperative that Indiana act to align with federal policy in the 2026 legislative session,” said Cory Harris, representative of the American Cannabis and Hemp Trade Association. “Failure to do so means that Indiana’s policy will be stricter than federal law, making Indiana a legal cannabis market.”

The federal provisions will go into effect in November. Freeman’s bill repeats those provisions, but puts them into effect four months earlier, in July.

“It’s sweet that Indiana codified a federal law that will decimate an entire industry in the state,” Swanson said. “The landscape is still unsettled.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Baird — a Republican representing Indiana — introduced a proposal to push the effective date of the federal ban to 2028. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order to expedite the reclassification of marijuana as a less dangerous and less restricted drug.

Swanson said his clients support a “responsible regulatory framework,” and told lawmakers that “the status quo is not acceptable to anyone.”

Freeman’s invoice spends dozens of pages specifically regulating low-THC “hemp-derived cannabinoid products” that would be legalized, primarily with a long-standing 21-and-over requirement.

It also puts the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission in charge of regulating the rest of the industry, establishing four types of licenses for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and carriers. They would be prohibited from advertising within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and others, with retailers prohibited from operating within the same radius.

Retailers would not be able to deliver products or allow customers to consume them on the spot. Selling the products online would also be illegal, another sticking point for advocates.

Dave Colt, CEO and co-founder of Sun King Brewery, said his homegrown company spent months and more than $100,000 on equipment, research and development for its THC seltzer. Amid declining alcohol sales nationwide, seltzers have allowed Sun King to retain its employees and even grow.

“We also make products for at least a dozen Hoosier small businesses. Without that additional revenue, we would be forced to lay off people and reduce our business significantly,” Colt stated. “We believe the industry wants clear regulations to meet consumer demand.”

Other provisions relate to packaging, labeling and testing.

A fiscal impact study by the nonpartisan Service Agency estimated a financial impact of half a billion dollars annually for ATC to administer and enforce the proposal. The agency will have to hire at least one excise officer in each of the six districts plus Marion County to investigate complaints related to the new regulatory framework.

There will be additional costs for law enforcement training, procurement and online databases, the analysis noted.

The costs could be offset by the permit and other fees collected. The measure would allocate 70 percent of the proceeds to ATC administrative efforts, 20 percent to enforcement, 5 percent to the state’s 988 suicide and crisis hotline and 5 percent to the general fund.

If all tobacco sales certificate holders applied for a retail permit, for example, their application fees would generate $2.1 million. If all are approved, the state would earn an additional $4.6 million, according to LSA’s analysis.

The state seed commissioner would handle licensing for hemp growers and handlers.

Freeman also included a sentence that prevents the Indiana code from immediately reflecting the federal reclassification of marijuana, if that goes forward.

“This bill simply says that we’re not going to automatically follow what the federal government does, that we, the 150 of us, would make that decision, not the federal government for us,” Freeman told his colleagues.

The Senate Commerce and Technology committee also approved an amendment to eliminate an excise tax, as all revenue-raising provisions must be initiated in the House.

The revised legislation passed on a 7-2 party line vote, but the next bill must pass through the Senate Appropriations Committee before going to the House floor.

Previous efforts to ban and regulate intoxicating hemp products have failed.

Asked about his chances this year, Senate Republican Leader Rodric Bray told reporters, “I don’t have that crystal ball,” but added, “I think the bill is in pretty good shape right now.”

“I think in Indiana, we would like some certainty about these products, so that those who manufacture and sell them know what our laws are,” he continued, “and, most importantly, to build in some really meaningful protections for our young people across the state.”

This story was first published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Brendan Cleak’s photo.

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Creating a thoughtful cannabis environment for Colorado Springs

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2 days ago

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January 16, 2026

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In Colorado Springs, where the landscape of legal cannabis is centered around medical use, BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs has become a destination for patients seeking high-quality cannabis products and a fair and respectful retail experience. Located at 2301 Rand Avenue, BioMeds has developed a reputation for prioritizing product integrity, patient education and consistent service in response to the brightest trends found in recreationally oriented markets.

Unlike recreational dispensaries, where the volume and variety can sometimes overwhelm, BioMeds takes a deliberate approach. The dispensary offers a good selection of medical cannabis products, including a variety of delivery formats to suit your health needs. These typically include flower strains, tinctures, capsules, topicals, and ingestibles, allowing patients to explore therapeutic cannabis without relying on inhaled methods.

BioMeds understands that patients arrive with different experiences, preferences and conditions. To meet these needs, the dispensary emphasizes informed, non-judgmental customer service based on product knowledge. The staff is trained to explain how different formats work, as well as interpret cannabinoid ratios, identify common terpenes, and select products that match specific wellness goals.

© BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs

BioMeds’ product selection is part of the reason patients turn to cannabis. For many, whole flower remains a must-have choice, especially strains that emphasize CBD content, balanced proportions or effect-specific terpene profiles. BioMeds often sells indica, sativa, and hybrids with specific labeling, allowing patients to make informed decisions about onset time, duration, and expected outcome. Beyond flower, tinctures and capsules offer discreet, dose-controlled ways to incorporate cannabis into your daily wellness routine, especially for those managing pain, inflammation, or neurological conditions.

Topicals are also a key part of BioMeds’ offering. These include cannabinoid-infused creams, salves, and lotions intended for topical use. Patients dealing with joint discomfort, muscle tension, or skin conditions often turn to topical products for their non-toxic effects and targeted relief. These products also serve as an entry point for patients exploring cannabis for the first time, especially when faced with systemic or psychoactive effects.

Another category that sees sustained interest in BioMeds is ingestion. These may include low-dose edibles, oils, or beverages tailored to patients seeking long-lasting, absorbed beverages. While recreational edibles in Colorado may gravitate toward high-THC formats, medically focused dispensaries like BioMeds ensure that low-dose, balanced-ratio, CBD-rich formats are available and clearly labeled. Many patients prefer longer-lasting edible formats, especially for managing symptoms at night or for relief throughout the day.

Compliance is a pillar of BioMeds’ operating philosophy. As a medical-only dispensary, the group complies with all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) guidelines. Patients must present a valid marijuana card, and all transactions are recorded and monitored according to state protocols. BioMeds does not allow recreational sales and maintains internal training programs to keep employees up-to-date on evolving regulations, labeling requirements and patient protection.

While the dispensary may not offer flashy promotions or themed events often seen in the recreational market, it has placed a special emphasis on medical integrity and personalized service in the Colorado Springs cannabis landscape. For patients who prioritize results over hype, BioMeds offers a consistent experience with proven products and a team that truly understands the nuances of using medical cannabis.

Behind the scenes, BioMeds maintains strong supplier relationships to ensure product availability and freshness. Inventory is regularly reviewed and rotated, and the team communicates directly with manufacturers to maintain transparency around sourcing, testing and packaging. The dispensary favors small and medium-sized Colorado growers who focus on consistency and compliance, with many products undergoing third-party lab testing for cannabinoid content, residual solvents and microbial contamination.

For more information:
BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs
biomedsofcolorado.com/

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