This bill amends South Dakota law to require individuals to possess a registry identification card in order to raise an affirmative defense in cannabis-related prosecutions. Specifically, it modifies the existing statute 34-20G-53 by removing the language that previously stated individuals were not required to have such a card for this purpose.

As a result of this amendment, individuals facing cannabis charges will now need to obtain a registry identification card to successfully claim an affirmative defense under the provisions outlined in 34-20G-51. This change aims to clarify the legal requirements for defendants in cannabis cases and potentially impact the defense strategies available to them.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/14/2026: 34-20G-53