A former South Dakota Department of Health employee is facing felony charges for allegedly forging and recertifying her own medical marijuana card without the required physician approval.
Alexandra Feiner, 24, of Pierre has been charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor in connection to the incident, which authorities say took place between March 2024 and March 2025. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Feiner worked in the state’s medical marijuana program and used her access to bypass the $75 renewal fee and issue a new card to herself without proper medical certification.
Feiner, who legally received a medical marijuana card in 2023, is accused of using her position to unlawfully reissue the card in 2024. The charges include forgery, offering a forged instrument for filing, and possession of a forged instrument—each carrying a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison. She also faces a misdemeanor charge for falsifying public records, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Attorney General Marty Jackley said the case reflects a broader effort to root out misconduct in state government. “The defendant is charged with using her position of trust as a Department of Health employee for her own personal benefit,” he said in a statement. “This type of conduct reflects poorly on those state government employees who work hard for South Dakotans.”
Feiner is no longer employed by the state, and her initial court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
Her case marks the sixth time since last summer that a former state employee has faced criminal charges tied to their work. Other recent cases have included falsifying food service inspections, forging vehicle titles, and the theft of nearly $1.8 million in public funds.
In response, lawmakers passed a series of reforms earlier this year to tighten oversight and strengthen whistleblower protections. Those measures include expanding the state auditor’s investigatory powers, creating mandatory reporting rules for state workers, and enhancing the authority of the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee. A new whistleblower reporting portal is also in development, following an executive order signed by Governor Larry Rhoden in April.
