New Cannabis Industry Association Of South Dakota Formed

A group of business owners, entrepreneurs and advocates announced the formation of the Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota, an organization for medical and recreational cannabis businesses as well as ancillary businesses adjacent to the cannabis industry.

The CIASD Board is comprised of the following businesses:

• Deadwood Management
• FSST Pharms
• Johnson Properties, LLC
• Blau Ernte, LLC
• MedRec, LLC
• North Coast Cannabis Company, LLC
• SDMCS LLCSozo SD, Inc.

The CIASD Board issued the following statement:

“The Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota is a group of business owners, entrepreneurs, and advocates who are working together to build a responsible and successful cannabis industry that serves the needs of medical cannabis patients and adult cannabis consumers, strengthens the state economy, creates jobs, provides new opportunities for existing South Dakota businesses, and generates tax revenue to fund schools and other public programs.

“Our top priority is to ensure that South Dakota’s new cannabis laws — Amendment A and Measure 26 — are implemented in a manner that establishes a fair and competitive cannabis regulatory system.

“We have been lobbying in Pierre to prevent damaging changes to Measure 26. We thank the South Dakota Legislature for ultimately rejecting legislation that would delay the implementation of the state’s medical cannabis program. Instead, they chose to honor the will of the people. We commend them for making that decision.

“We are hopeful and confident that Amendment A will be upheld by the South Dakota Supreme Court.”

The CIASD is accepting applications from new potential members. More information is available on the CIASD website.

Ned Horsted will serve as the acting executive director of CIASD.

“I’m thrilled to help launch this organization,” said Horsted. “The policies established by Amendment A and Measure 26 will create new economic opportunities for South Dakotans and CIASD is going to ensure that the state fully realizes this potential.”