PIERRE, SD – The Rules Review Committee of the South Dakota legislature will see the next round of proposed rules for the use of medical cannabis in schools at their meeting next week.
Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton says they sent the first set of rules back to the Department of Education.
“It wasn’t clear (in the rules) if this was going to apply to public school and private schools,” explained Cwach. “I believe the clarification we will get at this upcoming meeting is that these new medical marijuana rules will only apply to public schools and private schools can follow it as they see fit.”
Cwach says the revised rules set out how medical cannabis can be used in schools.
“They will have to have a system in place for how students can take a pill form of THC in a safe manner, away from other students,” said Cwach. “This can be done by a designated care giver.”
Cwach says this is only one step in the overall rule making process.
“The big work is still ahead of us,” he observed. “That is with the Department of Health (DOH) proposed rule. They have put out some early preliminary drafts. My understanding is the DOH is meeting with interest groups as to how those should be redefined. I don’t expect a final draft to be before the Rules Review Committee before September or October.
The committee meets Monday, July 19 in Pierre and remotely.
