Oversight committee clashes over ‘pop-up’ medical marijuana clinicsPosted by On


A medical marijuana card clinic popped up in early October at the Watertown Hampton Inn, where walk-ins were welcome.

An advance notice in the local newspaper said “certification takes roughly five minutes,” and the medical cannabis card would be mailed to the patient once approved.

That’s how most medical marijuana patients in South Dakota are receiving their cards, according to the state Department of Health.

Some members of the Legislature’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee expressed concerns Tuesday about “pop-up clinics” and how easily patients are getting approved. The committee met at the Capitol in Pierre.

Chris Qualm, of the Department of Health, said hundreds of patient applications come in over the course of a few days whenever a pop-up clinic takes place. The department said that’s how it typically finds out a pop-up clinic has happened. 

Bryan Walz, a captain with the Pierre Police Department, compared the pop-up clinics to “doctor shopping” by opioid addicts.

“If you’re just out there and can walk by, get a pamphlet, walk in, and in five minutes get a recommendation, I mean, in my eyes and in the public’s eyes, this is not legitimate,” Walz said.

Despite the concerns, pop-up clinics featuring licensed medical practitioners are legal under state laws and regulations arising from voters’ 2020 legalization of medical marijuana.

Additionally, medical marijuana patient and advocate Melissa Mentele said concerns about pop-up…

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