Sturgis to hold lottery in January to determine who gets cannabis license

STURGIS, S.D. – It will now be January before the city of Sturgis holds its lottery to determine who gets the two available marijuana cannabis dispensary licenses.

The city received 18 applications for the two licenses. Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie said following the application deadline on Nov. 23 that because more than two dispensary license applications were received, a lottery will need to be held.

Ainslie says they had hoped to hold the lottery this month, but instead Ainslie says they would have to move the lottery to next month because they are still reviewing applications.

Ainslie says the finance office will present the applications to the full council at their December 20th meeting.

Each of the city applicants had to pay a $7,500 application fee. The two applicants not chosen for a license will have their application fee refunded.

The city’s 18 applications were for six locations. Two of those locations submitted multiple applications.