The Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federally-funded coalition of law enforcement agencies, warned, “following medical marijuana legalization in South Dakota, hospitals observed an increase in emergency department visits and hospitalizations for marijuana complications/poisonings.” Specifically, from 2020 to 2022, South Dakota saw a 53% increase in marijuana-related ED visits, a 57% increase in hospitalizations, and a 93% increase in poison control calls.
Marijuana-Related ED Visits, Hospitalizations, & Poison Control Calls 2020-2022:
2020:
Hospitalizations: 21
Poison Control Calls: 46
ED Visits: 108
2021:
Hospitalizations: 37
Poison Control Calls: 65
ED Visits: 125
2022:
Hospitalizations: 33
Poison Control Calls: 89
ED Visits: 165
South Dakota officially legalized medical marijuana on July 1, 2021, after having voted to legalize it in November 2020. This November, South Dakotans will vote on Measure 29, which is an industry-funded ballot measure to legalize marijuana. Efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in South Dakota were defeated in both 2020 and 2022. To get involved with efforts to stop the legalization of marijuana in South Dakota, please visit Protecting South Dakota Kids, an organization that works to protect South Dakota families from the marijuana industry.
