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Updated on January 15, 2019. Medical content reviewed by Dr. Richard Koffler, MD, Board Certified Physiatrist
North Dakota medical marijuana qualifications cover a wide range of conditions. Residents of the state who suffer from these conditions can obtain cannabis from dispensaries, which are known as “compassion centers.” These are the conditions that qualified as of this writing:
The North Dakota Department of Health may add a condition or treatment to the list of debilitating conditions, if it finds that marijuana is likely to be a beneficial treatment — any citizen may petition the DOH to add ailments/conditions or their treatments, to the list.
There was a lot of confusion at the time voters approved the medical cannabis measure, largely because state legislators didn’t expect that approval to occur. As a result, there are still many major regulatory issues that need to be ironed out.
Patients who meet North Dakota medical marijuana qualifications must obtain a patient identification card in order to access therapeutic weed. While the original measure called for a $200 fee, that was later lowered to $50. They must not only submit the fee, they must also provide a written recommendation for marijuana use from a doctor with whom they have a “bona fide” doctor/patient relationship.
The state Department of Health is responsible for approving applications and issuing identification cards. The department is supposed to issue cards within 30 days of approval.
Patients may designate caregivers to obtain their medical cannabis if they are unable to do so on their own. Caregivers also have to obtain an identification card. The application process involves consenting to a criminal background check — anyone who has been convicted of a felony will not be eligible.
In January 2017, a bill was introduced in the state House that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana as well as cannabis-related paraphernalia. Violators would only face a civil infraction rather than be subjected to an arrest and/or jail time. As the law currently stands, someone could face as long as 30 days in jail as well as a fine of up to $1,500 for possessing as little as an ounce or less of weed.
However, the bill was not expected to pass. As a result, marijuana laws in North Dakota will very likely continue to be among the harshest in the country.
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