FORT PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- The first medical marijuana combination cultivation facility and dispensary in Fort Pierre broke ground Wednesday and hopes to begin construction next month.

Bad River Cannabis Chief Operations Officer and Lead Cultivator Rob Krogstad says the city and state have been helpful throughout the permit application process.

Krogstand says there wasn’t much information available about growing the plants in South Dakota, but he has two decades of growing experience from his time living in other states.

Fort Pierre Development Corporation Executive Director Dave Bonde says Bad River Cannabis is a welcome addition to town.

A second company, Black Hills Cannabis Care, has received a dispensary permit to build in Fort Pierre.

South Dakota voters approved medical marijuana legalization on the November 2020 ballot. The state has been working through the details and providing updates on the https://medcannabis.sd.gov/ website.