RAPID CITY, SD — If they’re not patients, it’s likely that many Rapid City residents have seen the large, green and white Puffy’s logo on dispensary storefronts or a yard sign on Puffy’s property. More likely, they’ve heard of Puffy’s as the topic of conversations heavily revolving around state-wide cannabis legislation. Otherwise, it’s most likely that many residents have more questions than answers when it comes to Puffy’s and dispensaries in general.  

Medical cannabis has only been legal for a handful of years in South Dakota and was brought into law at the same time that Amendment A, allowing for legal adult recreational use of cannabis, was vetoed by then-Governor Noem under a single-subject rule. Cannabis remains controversial and heavily controlled, making it difficult to discuss and even more difficult to sell. 

So what exactly is Puffy’s doing in South Dakota? 

Kitt Jeffries, owner of Puffy’s and a lobbyist for cannabis in South Dakota, sits down with the Rapid City Business Journal and tells us exactly that. 

Why Puffy’s?

Kitt Jeffries, born and raised in Rapid City, currently operates a large medical cannabis cultivation and manufacturing operation as well three Puffy’s dispensary locations: two in Rapid City and one in Sturgis. 

Jeffries’ journey into the cannabis industry began years earlier after his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis prompted him to research alternative treatments. Treatments, he’d heard,  that could help with symptoms like nausea, appetite loss and pain management. One treatment in particular, medical cannabis, stood out to him.

“My mom is a breast cancer survivor,” Jeffries said. “I just kind of found this passion of wanting to learn more and more about this plant.”

At the time, Jeffries was living in Colorado and then Oregon. He worked on cannabis grow operations and worked his way up at a dispensary from front desk to General Manager in less than a year’s time. He attributes this experience at least partially to Puffy’s current-day success. 

At the same time, Jeffries said he made a promise to return home the very moment South Dakota legalized marijuana.

“That promise was, if South Dakota ever legalized medical and recreational marijuana, no matter what, I’d move back and get going here,” he said.

In 2020, he kept that promise and moved back to Rapid City the day after South Dakota voters approved medical marijuana in 2020.

Puffy’s began medical marijuana sales on Sept. 1, 2022, following the passage of Initiated Measure 26.

A Highly Regulated Industry

Opening a cannabis business in South Dakota comes with significant challenges, Jeffries said, describing the process as complex but rewarding.

“It is by and far just shy of opening a bank,” he said, referring to the legalities of opening a dispensary in South Dakota. 

From cultivation to retail, every product is tracked through a “seed-to-sale” system, including data on plant growth, handling and processing.

For Jeffries, an analogy his father came up with seems to describe Medical Cannabis in South Dakota best: “If you had a can of Campbell’s tomato soup and you scan the barcode, you would be able to see who farmed the tomatoes, what other additives and preservatives were in there, why they added those, if they were ever sprayed with pesticides. When it was processed from tomatoes into soup, when it was canned, when it was labeled, when it was packaged, when it was distributed, when it was on the truck. And then who performed all those actions?” 

For Jeffries and the rest of the Puffy’s team, every step of their process is recorded, tracked and monitored in a very similar manner. 

Despite the complexity, though, Jeffries said the structure ensures accountability and safety in an industry still new to the state.

Serving Patients, Not Customers

Because cannabis remains legal in South Dakota only for medical use, Jeffries emphasizes that those who visit Puffy’s are patients.

“To get a medical marijuana card, you have to be seen by a physician,” he said.

He said many of those patients are dealing with serious health conditions including cancer and chronic pain.

“We deal with people who have cancer, who are dealing with day-to-day issues,” Jeffries said. “It is as true to a clinic as it could possibly be.”

Jeffries recalled stories from patients who found relief through cannabis including individuals undergoing chemotherapy and veterans managing pain.

“Those types of stories are very fulfilling,” he said.

From Business Owner to Lobbyist 

Beyond running Puffy’s, Jeffries has become deeply involved in cannabis policy and advocacy in South Dakota. 

Initially hesitant about lobbying, he said his perspective shifted after realizing the role experts play in educating lawmakers.

“Lobbyists are more like educators on a specific subject,” Jeffries said, explaining his perspective. He has found himself intent on becoming not only an advocate for Cannabis legislation in South Dakota but also an educator to those involved in the legislative process. 

This includes becoming president of the Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota where he works with other industry members to shape policy and regulations.

Jeffries has also been involved in efforts to expand marijuana legalization in the state, including ballot initiatives for adult-use cannabis. 

Jeffries believes broader legalization is inevitable despite certain ballot initiatives failing in the last couple of years.

“I think right now, it’s safe to say that it is going to happen in our lifetime,” he said.

Looking Ahead

Puffy’s continues to look at what’s next on the horizon and to continue to grow. This includes plans for another Rapid City location that are already in progress.

Jeffries also hopes to see policy changes that would allow greater access for out-of-state visitors with a medical cannabis card. His focus is particularly in tourism-heavy areas such as the Black Hills, where he believes tax revenue from loosened medical cannabis restrictions across state lines could ultimately benefit our residents and businesses.

Jeffries maintains that his focus remains on growth, education and shaping the future of cannabis in South Dakota.

Despite the hurdles and the setbacks, Jeffries remains hopeful: “We take something as South Dakotans, we grab the bull by the horns, and we make it our own,” he said.