MISSION – Pejico, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s medical cannabis dispensary, accepted online registrations for the first 50 patients to receive a ticket to attend an evening opening.
The online tickets sold out quickly for the November 14 event. Registration required patients to be valid RST medical cannabis card holders. A grand opening was held for all RST medical marijuana card holders on Friday, November 15 at 9am. Per RST law, the dispensary is open to persons aged 21 years or older. In addition, you must have a valid RST Medical Card to enter.
In 2022, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal council enacted the Medical Marijuana Control Ordinance (2022-04). They subsequently approved Resolution 2022-269 legalizing cannabis use within the boundaries of the Rosebud reservation for qualifying patients.
In order to qualify for a medical cannabis card, patients must be 21 years old and have a prescription by a licensed physician. Many local residents visited the Online Medical Card website to make an appointment with a medical doctor. https:// www.onlinemedicalcard. com/
New signage for the RST Medical Cannabis Dispensary. Photo by Vi Waln.
After a telehealth visit with a licensed physician, patients receive a qualifying letter to submit with their application for a medical cannabis card. Patients are responsible for paying all fees surrounding the physician visit. A debilitating medical condition qualifies people for a cannabis prescription. For example, patients who suffer from chronic pain, cancer, terminal illnesses or other medical conditions could be eligible for a cannabis prescription.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe cannabis possession/ use restrictions apply to medical card holders as follows: (1) a person can only carry a maximum of 3 ounces at any given time, (2) you cannot drive, operate or be in actual physical control of a vehicle under the influence of marijuana, (3) you cannot knowingly deliver marijuana to another person who does not lawfully hold a valid medical card and (4) an RST medical marijuana card will not always exempt an employee from submitting to drug testing. Drug testing policies and procedures are at the discretion of the employer.
Pejico is located in the former Stadium Sports building in Mission on highway 18, just east of Subway. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am-9pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. The dispensary accepts cash payments only. A social media post over the weekend advertised Pejico’s Happy Hour from 4:20pm-5:20pm with a 10% off products. The dispensary currently offers only flower products.
The RST Cannabis Commission is the regulatory body of the Medical Marijuana Control Ordinance. Currently, the Commission has authorized REDCO (Sicangu Co.) to grow and sell medical marijuana. No other licenses are being issued at this time. RST Cannabis Commission members include Jonathan Odegard, Shakira Rattling Leaf, Deanna Haukaas, Anthony Bordeaux and Shastri Schoon.
Interested persons can apply for an RST Medical Marijuana Card through the Legislative Affairs office located in the tribal annex building in Rosebud, SD. For more information call 605-747-3185.
