North Dakota first legalized cannabis for medical use in November 2016 when voters in the state approved Measure 5. The successful vote took place four years after voters in North Dakota rejected a similar measure.
“The measure calls for legalizing marijuana to treat some medical conditions, such as cancer, AIDS and hepatitis C. Patients would need identification cards listing specific criteria.” the New York Times stated in 2016 during the election.
According to the Marijuana Policy Project, in regard to qualifying conditions for North Dakota’s medical cannabis program, “a patient must have one or more of the following medical conditions: any terminal illness, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, PTSD under certain circumstances, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, chronic back pain (including neuropathy or damage to the nervous tissues of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity), glaucoma, epilepsy, a medical condition that produces cachexia or wasting, severe and debilitating pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures for more than three months or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects, intractable nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms.”
“Whole plant (flower) is permitted, but doctors must specifically certify patients to use this form of cannabis. Also allowed are patches, tinctures, topicals, and capsules. Edibles and concentrates are not permitted.” the Marijuana Policy Project also states.
The state’s medical cannabis program is now serving roughly 10,000 suffering patients according to initial reporting by KX Net. The local media outlets reported that, “as of April 4, North Dakota has 9,932 people who have an active medical marijuana card.”
“At the beginning of the program, of when it was implemented, we did receive a number of phone calls and heard from a number of individuals that they were having a difficult time trying to find a healthcare provider,” said Jason Wahl, the Director of Medical Marijuana in North Dakota, according to KX Net.
North Dakota’s first legal medical cannabis sale/purchase took place on March 1, 2019. According to the State of North Dakota’s annual medical cannabis report for 2023, the following entities have active business licenses:
Manufacturing Facilities:
• Grassroots Cannabis in Fargo (legal name GR Vending ND, LLC)
• Pure Dakota, LLC in Bismarck
Registered dispensaries:
• Curaleaf in Devils Lake
• Curaleaf in Dickinson
• Curaleaf in Jamestown
• Curaleaf in Minot
• Pure Dakota Health in Bismarck
• Pure Dakota Health in Fargo
• Pure Dakota Health in Williston
• We-Mend (Strive Life) in Grand Forks