South Dakota lawmakers try to 'stand up' medical marijuana program before July 1 start South Dakotans eligible for medical cannabis will need to apply with the Department of Health, which won't send out cards until November. Secretary Malsam-Rysdon anticipates "summer 2022" as earliest sales of SD-grown cannabis could happen. Written By: Christopher Vondracek | × Lawmakers in Pierre, South Dakota listen in to testimony on Wednesday, May 26, the first day of a two-day meeting of a summer study on the implementation of the medical marijuana program. (Austin Goss / Dakota News Now) PIERRE, S.D. — Lawmakers and state officials rolled up their sleeves on Wednesday, May 26 — with little time to spare — to undertake a task few thought possible during the legislative session: A two-day summit on South Dakota's medical marijuana law, just over a month until the law's effective date.