Former state worker accused of forging marijuana card

OG Article

Marissa Brunkhorst

Posted: Jun 2, 2025 / 10:32 AM CDT

Updated: Jun 3, 2025 / 06:40 AM CDT

SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — A Pierre woman has been charged with four counts of falsifying her own medical marijuana card while she was an employee of the South Dakota Department of Health.

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According to a news release from the South Dakota Attorney General’s office, Alexandra Feiner, 24, has been charged with forgery, false and forged instrument, falsification public records and possession of a forged instrument with intent to defraud.

“The defendant is charged with using her position of trust as a Department of Health employee for her own personal benefit,” state Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a news release. His statement added, “This type of conduct reflects poorly on those state government employees who work hard for South Dakotans.”

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The alleged crimes occurred between March 2024 and March 2025. The South Dakota Department of Health oversees the state’s medical-marijuana program and cooperated with the investigation conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

The DOH has had more than four different medical-cannabis administrators since the program was created after the November 2020 election.

Feiner applied for and received a medical cannabis card in April of 2023. She was certified to receive the card by practitioner Donna Linke of Healing Spirit Psychiatry and Counseling PLLC. Feiner paid for this application, court documents said.

A renewal window opened up for Feiner’s cannabis card in February of 2024. Feiner allegedly extended the expiration date of the card and approved her own renewal application. She then allegedly created a new medical cannabis card for herself and extended the expiration to May 1, 2025.

According to court documents, DOH Secretary Melissa Magstadt reached out to the DCI on March 5 after another DOH employee overheard a former DOH employee speaking at a local gym. Magstadt confirmed Feiner had the ability within the system to create and issue medical marijuana cards.

Court documents say Feiner’s history records show there is not medical provider certification for the medical cannabis card issued to herself on March 19, 2024.

According to the AG’s office, one felony count of forgery carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; while one felony count of offering a false or forged Instrument for filing, registering or recording carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. One felony count of possession of a forged instrument carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

The charge of falsification of public records by a public officer or employee is a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail.

It is alleged that the defendant avoided both the medical provider certification requirement and the fee.

Feiner is listed as an inactive employee on the state’s transparency website and appears to have left state government employment this spring. The program’s previous administrator, Emily Kerr, left at approximately the same time. Whitney Brunner is currently the program administrator.

KELOLAND News reached out to DOH for more information. They confirmed Feiner’s last day of employment with DOH was March 11, 2025, however they could not provide more details, “as this continues to be an active and ongoing investigation.”