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North Dakota

CANNABIS DISPENSARY REGULATIONS FOR NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota allows medical marijuana but does not permit recreational cannabis sales. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services administers the state’s Medical Marijuana Program.

The department registers patients, caregivers, dispensaries, manufacturing facilities, and cannabis business employees. It also oversees product testing, inventory control, security, packaging, and other compliance requirements.

Dispensary and Manufacturing Structure

North Dakota uses a limited-license system. Under Chapter 19-24.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, the department may register up to:

  • Two manufacturing facilities
  • Eight medical marijuana dispensaries

However, the department may approve additional facilities if it decides that patients need better access.

North Dakota currently has eight registered dispensaries. They operate in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, and Williston. The state publishes addresses and business hours on its official dispensary locations page.

A dispensary may sell medical marijuana only after confirming that a patient or caregiver has a valid registry identification card. Manufacturing facilities may supply dispensaries, but they cannot sell products directly to patients.

Patient Registration and Access

A North Dakota resident generally needs a written certification from an approved healthcare provider. The patient must then apply for a registry identification card.

The certification must be based on a genuine provider-patient relationship. Physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses may provide certifications if they meet state requirements.

Patients can find application forms and instructions on the North Dakota HHS patient information page.

A patient may also appoint a registered designated caregiver. The caregiver can purchase and possess medical marijuana on the patient’s behalf.

The standard patient card is valid for two years. State law allows an application fee of up to $40. Applicants should confirm the current amount through the state registration portal before applying.

Access for Out-of-State Patients

North Dakota also offers temporary access to certain nonresidents. A visitor must have a valid medical marijuana card and identification from the same home jurisdiction.

An approved nonresident card remains valid for 60 days. The current application fee is $40. Additional eligibility rules appear in the state’s nonresident application instructions.

An out-of-state card alone does not authorize a visitor to purchase medical marijuana in North Dakota. The visitor must first obtain the temporary North Dakota card.

Approved Medical Marijuana Products

Registered dispensaries may offer several product categories. These include:

  • Dried cannabis leaves and flowers for adult patients
  • Cannabis concentrates and extracts
  • Solutions and tincture-style products
  • Capsules
  • Transdermal patches
  • Topical products
  • Approved cannabinoid edibles

Patients under 19 cannot receive dried leaves or flowers. Their products also cannot contain more than 6 percent THC.

The original draft stated that smoking cannabis is prohibited. That is not an accurate description of the current law. North Dakota allows flower in what the statute calls a “combustible delivery form.” However, patients must follow restrictions on where cannabis can be used. They also cannot expose an unauthorized minor to cannabis smoke or vapor.

Purchase and Possession Limits

North Dakota applies different limits to flower, concentrates, and edible products. The state’s product and limits guide explains the current rules.

During any 30-day period, a registered patient may purchase:

  • Up to 2.5 ounces of dried cannabis leaves and flowers
  • Up to 6,000 milligrams of total THC in concentrates and other medical cannabinoid products
  • Up to 310 milligrams of THC in edible products per day, counted toward the 6,000-milligram limit

A healthcare provider may authorize a patient with cancer to purchase up to six ounces of flower during a 30-day period.

Possession limits differ from purchase limits. A standard patient may possess up to three ounces of flower. A cancer patient with enhanced authorization may possess up to 7.5 ounces. A patient may possess no more than 500 milligrams of THC in edible products at one time.

Patients receive state-law protection only for medical marijuana purchased from a registered North Dakota dispensary. Products brought into the state or obtained from another source are not protected by the medical program.

Business Compliance Requirements

North Dakota calls licensed medical marijuana businesses “compassion centers.” These businesses must follow detailed state rules.

For example, dispensaries and manufacturers must maintain secure facilities and operational alarm systems. They must also use barcode-based inventory systems to track cannabis by batch, strain, quantity, and transaction.

The department may conduct random inspections. Manufacturing facilities must test products for pesticides and other contaminants. The state can also order the destruction of affected inventory.

Additional rules cover:

  • Product packaging and labeling
  • Advertising and marketing
  • Employee registration
  • Accurate recordkeeping
  • Transportation and storage
  • Edible product approval
  • Patient purchase verification

Businesses should review the state’s medical marijuana laws and administrative rules before applying or changing their operations.

Federal cannabis restrictions still make banking and payment processing difficult for North Dakota medical marijuana businesses. PayRio works with eligible cannabis businesses to develop payment systems based on their location, operations, and underwriting profile.

Learn more about PayRio’s cannabis payment solutions or contact PayRio to discuss your medical marijuana business.

CANNABIS LEGALIZATION HISTORY IN NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota voters approved Initiated Statutory Measure No. 5 in November 2016. The measure established the state’s medical marijuana program.

The state then developed its licensing, patient-registration, and product-control systems. North Dakota’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened in March 2019.

Voters have considered adult-use legalization several times. They rejected a recreational cannabis measure in 2018.

In 2022, voters rejected Initiated Statutory Measure No. 2. That proposal would have legalized the production, sale, possession, and use of cannabis by adults.

Another adult-use proposal appeared on the November 2024 ballot. Voters rejected that measure with approximately 52.5 percent voting against it, according to the official 2024 election results.

Therefore, North Dakota still does not have a licensed recreational cannabis market.

CANNABIS LEGALIZATION STATUS IN NORTH DAKOTA

Current Status: Legal for medical use only

North Dakota law currently allows:

  • Registered patients to purchase medical marijuana from eight state-registered dispensaries
  • Registered caregivers to assist approved patients
  • Qualifying nonresidents to apply for temporary North Dakota cards
  • State-registered manufacturing and retail operations
  • Approved flower, concentrates, capsules, solutions, topicals, patches, and edibles

Recreational cannabis sales remain illegal. Adults cannot legally possess cannabis outside the medical program. Patients also cannot grow cannabis at home.

North Dakota operates a small and closely controlled medical market. Businesses must maintain active state registration and follow the program’s testing, tracking, security, and sales rules.

LAST UPDATED 9/4/2026 – Laws can be revised and updated frequently, so please keep this in mind.