Cannabis in North Dakota: lounges, dispensaries & laws

North Dakota cannabis laws at a glance

Legal status

Medical Only

Medical since

2016

Medical possession

Up to 3 oz of dried leaves and flowers purchased from a North Dakota registered dispensary (enhanced to 7.5 oz for patients whose qualifying condition is cancer, when authorized by their health care provider). Separately, up to 500 mg THC in cannabinoid edible products. The state states no separate possession cap exists for concentrates and other medical cannabinoid products. Critically, only product dispensed by one of North Dakota's registered in-state dispensaries is protected — the state warns there are 'no protections for individuals in North Dakota with marijuana or marijuana products not purchased from an in-state registered dispensary.' Minors under 19 may not possess dried leaves/flowers or any product over 6% THC.

Purchase limit

Per 30-day period: up to 2.5 oz of dried leaves and flowers (up to 6 oz for cancer patients authorized by their provider), PLUS up to 6,000 mg total THC of other product types (concentrates, solutions, capsules, patches, topicals, edibles). Within that 6,000 mg allotment, cannabinoid edible products carry a daily cap of 310 mg THC per day. Patients track this via a 'limit meter' in the state registration system.

Home cultivation

Not permitted, for anyone. North Dakota allows no home cultivation — not for adult-use (which does not exist) and not for registered medical patients. Under NDCC ch. 19-24.1, production and processing of marijuana may only be done by state-registered manufacturing facilities; patients and caregivers may only obtain product from registered dispensaries. Cultivation is prosecuted under the general controlled-substances statutes. The failed 2024 Measure 5 would have allowed six plants per household; it did not pass.

Public consumption

There is no lawful public consumption in North Dakota. For anyone without a valid North Dakota medical card, possessing marijuana is an offense (possession of under 1/2 oz is a non-criminal infraction punishable by a fine up to $1,000 following 2019's HB 1050; larger amounts are misdemeanors), and per NORML's penalty chart the separate offense of ingesting marijuana is a misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine. Registered patients get no public-use shield either: NDCC 19-24.1-33 excludes possession or consumption on school buses/vans, on public or private school grounds, at any location during a school-sanctioned event, on correctional facility grounds, and at child care facilities or licensed home day cares; it also incorporates North Dakota's Smoke-Free Law (NDCC 23-12-09 et seq.), which bars smoking and vaping in indoor public places and places of employment. Driving under the influence remains prohibited. Property owners, landlords and facilities may independently forbid consumption on their premises (NDCC 19-24.1-34, 19-24.1-35).

Minimum age (medical)

19 and older for standard adult patient registration (19 is the age of majority in North Dakota). Minors under 19 may register with a parent or legal guardian acting as designated caregiver, but minor patients may not receive dried leaves and flowers and may not have any product exceeding 6% THC. Designated caregivers must be at least 21 and pass a background check.

Out-of-state medical cards

No. The state health department's official patient FAQ answers this directly: 'North Dakota does not recognize other states' medical marijuana cards.' However, North Dakota does offer a workaround unusual among non-reciprocal states — nonresidents may apply for a North Dakota Non-Resident medical marijuana card, valid for 60 days, which requires that their out-of-state medical marijuana card and their state-issued ID or driver's license both remain valid for the card's full 60-day duration. Even with a valid ND card, a cardholder may only purchase and possess product dispensed by a registered North Dakota dispensary, and the state warns that marijuana products should not be transported across state lines.

Qualifying conditions

Moderately broad and statutorily enumerated — no open-ended physician discretion. NDCC 19-24.1-01(16) lists 25 named conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, decompensated cirrhosis from hepatitis C, ALS, PTSD, agitation of Alzheimer's/dementia, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis or chronic back pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, anxiety disorder, Tourette syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, neuropathy, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, autism spectrum disorder, brain injury, and terminal illness — plus a catch-all for any chronic or debilitating disease (or its treatment) producing cachexia/wasting, severe debilitating pain unresponsive to prior treatment for 3+ months, intractable nausea, seizures, or severe persistent muscle spasms. Certification requires a bona fide provider-patient relationship with an ND-licensed physician, PA, or APRN; alternative certification pathways exist for veterans using VA care and for hospice patients.