Law enforcement commission offers forgiveness for marijuana use
July 13, 2023
PIERRE, S.D.–A law enforcement hopeful was offered forgiveness for cannabis use by the South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission on Wednesday in Pierre.
Alicen Fladland appeared before the commission with the support of Roberts County Sheriff Tyler Appel, who hopes to hire her as a deputy.
Fladland has worked for Appel since 2021, first as a dispatcher and later as a correctional officer. Appel would like to see her move up into a deputy role, which would require law enforcement certification.
On her application for that certification, however, Fladland admitted to using marijuana in 2022.
She told investigators that she’d obtained a medical marijuana card through the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe after a knee surgery.
She’d explained to Appel that she went that route to avoid potentially addictive prescription painkillers, but didn’t realize that tribal medical marijuana cards are not recognized by the state.
Attorney General Marty Jackley moved to reinstate her eligibility on the condition that she submit a new application. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the decision.
