Watertown Rep. Josephine Garcia to Chair South Dakota Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee Meeting in Pierre

Northeast Radio SD News – Pierre, SD - Watertown State Representative Josephine Garcia (R-Watertown) will lead South Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee as Chair when it convenes for its first meeting of the 2026 interim. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CT in Room 413 of the State Capitol in Pierre.

Garcia, who was appointed Chair alongside Vice-Chair Senator John Carley (R-Piedmont), oversees the 11-member panel charged under state law with evaluating and reviewing the ongoing operations of South Dakota’s medical cannabis framework.

State Program Updates and Federal Rescheduling on Agenda

The upcoming Session will cover administrative oversight and federal policy developments:

·         State Program Status: Whitney Brunner, Administrator for the Office of Medical Cannabis, will deliver a comprehensive overview and status update on South Dakota’s Medical Cannabis Program.

·         Federal Rescheduling Impact: Representatives from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)—including Nicole Ezeh, Megan Bland, and Karmen Hanson—will present on potential federal cannabis rescheduling and how shifts in federal law could impact state actions.

·         Public Comment & Directives: Following presentations, the committee will hear public comments before holding committee discussions and issuing interim directives.

Committee Membership

In addition to Representative Garcia and Senator Carley, the committee roster includes both legislative and non-legislative stakeholders:

·         Legislators: Rep. Bobbi Andera (R-Sioux Falls) and Sen. Lauren Nelson (R-Yankton).

·         Non-Legislators: Dr. Francine Arneson, Julie Bostic, Kasey Entwisle, Kristi Palmer, Andrew Schock, Jon Thum, and Pat West.

How to Participate or Watch Live

Members of the public interested in presenting or testifying—either in person or remotely—must register electronically prior to the meeting.

·         Testimony Registration: Registration forms can be submitted online via the South Dakota Legislature Registration Portal.

·         Live Audio Stream: Live committee audio will be broadcast by South Dakota Public Broadcasting on SD.net and can be tracked on the official South Dakota Legislature Schedule. Full agendas, minutes, and recorded audio will be archived on the state legislative site.

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