Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
HOUSE BILL NO. 1203
(Representatives Vetter, Dobervich, M. Ruby, Steiner, Frelich, Christianson, Christy, Bahl)
(Senators Cory, Meyer)
AN ACT to create and enact section 19-24.1-24.1 and a new subsection to section 19-24.1-36 of the
North Dakota Century Code, relating to regulating edible medical marijuana products; and to
amend and reenact section 19-24.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to definitions
of medical marijuana products.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 19-24.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and
reenacted as follows:
19-24.1-01. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise:
1."Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice registered nurse defined
under section 43-12.1-02.
2."Agent" means an individual who is authorized to act for, in place of, or on behalf of a
compassion center.
3."Allowable amount of usable marijuana" means the amount of usable marijuana a registered
qualifying patient or registered designated caregiver may purchase in a thirty-day period under
this chapter.
a.Except as provided under subdivision b:
(1)During a thirty-day period, a registered qualifying patient may not purchase or have
purchased by a registered designated caregiver more than two and one-half ounces
[70.87 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis in a
combustible delivery form.
(2)At any time a registered qualifying patient, or a registered designated caregiver on
behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not possess more than three ounces
[85.05 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis in a
combustible delivery form.
(3)At any time, a registered qualifying patient, or a registered designated caregiver on
behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not possess more than five hundred
milligrams of a cannabinoid edible product.
b.Notwithstanding subdivision a, if a registered qualifying patient has a registry
identification card authorizing an enhanced allowable amount:
(1)During a thirty-day period a registered qualifying patient may not purchase or have
purchased by a registered designated caregiver more than six ounces [170.01
grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of genus cannabis in a combustible
delivery form.
(2)At any time a registered qualifying patient, or a registered designated caregiver on
behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not possess more than seven and H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 2
one-half ounces [212.62 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus
cannabis in a combustible delivery form.
(3)At any time, a registered qualifying patient, or a registered designated caregiver on
behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not possess more than five hundred
milligrams of a cannabinoid edible product.
c.A registered qualifying patient may not purchase or have purchased by a registered
designated caregiver more than the maximum concentration or amount of
tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a thirty-day period. The maximum concentration or
amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a thirty-day period for a cannabinoid
concentrate or medical cannabinoid product, or the cumulative total of both, is six
thousand milligrams. At any time, a registered qualifying patient, or a registered
designated caregiver on behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not purchase more
than three hundred ten milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol in the form of a cannabinoid
edible product.
4."Bona fide provider-patient relationship" means a treatment or counseling relationship
between a health care provider and patient in which all the following are present:
a.The health care provider has reviewed the patient's relevant medical records and
completed a full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical
condition, including a relevant, in-person, medical evaluation of the patient.
b.The health care provider has created and maintained records of the patient's condition in
accordance with medically accepted standards.
c.The patient is under the health care provider's continued care for the debilitating medical
condition that qualifies the patient for the medical use of marijuana.
d.The health care provider has a reasonable expectation that provider will continue to
provide followup care to the patient to monitor the medical use of marijuana as a
treatment of the patient's debilitating medical condition.
e.The relationship is not for the sole purpose of providing written certification for the
medical use of marijuana.
5."Cannabinoid" means a chemical compound that is one of the active constituents of
marijuana.
6."Cannabinoid capsule" means a small, soluble container, usually made of gelatin, which
encloses a dose of a cannabinoid product or a cannabinoid concentrate intended for
consumption. The maximum concentration of amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a
serving of a cannabinoid capsule is fifty milligrams.
7."Cannabinoid concentrate" means a concentrate or extract obtained by separating
cannabinoids from marijuana by a mechanical, chemical, or other process.
8."Cannabinoid edible product" means a food or potable liquidsoft or hard lozenge in a
geometric square shape into which a cannabinoid concentrate or the dried leaves or flowers of
the plant of the genus cannabis is incorporated.
a.The maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a serving of
a cannabinoid edible product is five milligrams and in a package is fifty milligrams.
b.The term does not include a hard or soft lozenge in a geometric square shape into which
a cannabinoid concentrate or the dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus
cannabis is incorporated if the form, packaging, or labeling is target marketed to minors. H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 3
9."Cannabinoid solution" means a solution consisting of a mixture created from cannabinoid
concentrate and other ingredients. A container holding a cannabinoid solution for dispensing
may not exceed thirty milliliters.
10."Cannabinoid topical" means a cannabinoid product intended to be applied to the skin or hair.
The maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a cannabinoid
topical is six percent.
11."Cannabinoid transdermal patch" means an adhesive substance applied to the skin which
contains a cannabinoid product or cannabinoid concentrate for absorption into the
bloodstream. The maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a
serving of a cannabinoid transdermal patch is fifty milligrams.
12."Cardholder" means a qualifying patient, designated caregiver, or compassion center agent
who has been issued and possesses a valid registry identification card.
13."Compassion center" means a manufacturing facility or dispensary.
14."Compassion center agent" means a principal officer, board member, member, manager,
governor, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center. The term does not include a
lawyer representing a compassion center in civil or criminal litigation or in an adversarial
administrative proceeding.
15."Contaminated" means made impure or inferior by extraneous substances.
16."Debilitating medical condition" means one of the following:
a.Cancer;
b.Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus;
c.Acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
d.Decompensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C;
e.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
f.Posttraumatic stress disorder;
g.Agitation of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia;
h.Crohn's disease;
i.Fibromyalgia;
j.Spinal stenosis or chronic back pain, including neuropathy or damage to the nervous
tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity;
k.Glaucoma;
l.Epilepsy;
m.Anorexia nervosa;
n.Bulimia nervosa;
o.Anxiety disorder;
p.Tourette syndrome;
q.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 4
r.Endometriosis;
s.Interstitial cystitis;
t.Neuropathy;
u.Migraine;
v.Rheumatoid arthritis;
w.Autism spectrum disorder;
x.A brain injury;
y.A terminal illness; or
z.A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or treatment for such disease or
medical condition that produces one or more of the following:
(1)Cachexia or wasting syndrome;
(2)Severe 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;
(3)Intractable nausea;
(4)Seizures; or
(5)Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple
sclerosis.
17."Department" means the department of health and human services.
18."Designated caregiver" means an individual who agrees to manage the well-being of a
registered qualifying patient with respect to the qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana.
19."Dispensary" means an entity registered by the department as a compassion center
authorized to dispense usable marijuana to a registered qualifying patient and a registered
designated caregiver.
20."Enclosed, locked facility" means a closet, room, greenhouse, building, or other enclosed area
equipped with locks or other security devices that permit access limited to individuals
authorized under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter.
21."Health care provider" means a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice
registered nurse.
22."Manager'' means an individual who administers or supervises the day-to-day operations and
affairs of a compassion center.
23."Manufacturing facility" means an entity registered by the department as a compassion center
authorized to produce and process and to sell usable marijuana to a dispensary.
24."Marijuana" means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis; the seeds of the plant; the
resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative,
mixture, or preparation of the plant, the seeds of the plant, or the resin extracted from any part
of the plant. The term marijuana does not include:
a.Hemp as regulated under section 4.1-18.1-01; or H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 5
b.A prescription drug approved by the United States food and drug administration under
section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 355].
25."Maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol" means the total amount of
tetrahydrocannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in a medical cannabinoid product or a
cannabinoid concentrate.
26."Medical cannabinoid product" means a product intended for human consumption or use
which contains cannabinoids.
a.Medical cannabinoid products are limited to the following forms:
(1)Cannabinoid solution;
(2)Cannabinoid capsule;
(3)Cannabinoid transdermal patch; and
(4)Cannabinoid topical; and
(5)Cannabinoid edible products.
b."Medical cannabinoid product" does not include:
(1)A cannabinoid edible product;
(2)A cannabinoid concentrate by itself; or
(3)(2)The dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis by itself.
27."Medical marijuana product" means a cannabinoid concentrate or a medical cannabinoid
product.
28."Medical marijuana waste" means unused, surplus, returned, or out-of-date usable marijuana;
recalled usable marijuana; unused marijuana; or plant debris of the plant of the genus
cannabis, including dead plants and all unused plant parts and roots.
29."Medical use of marijuana" means the acquisition, use, and possession of usable marijuana to
treat or alleviate a qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition.
30."Member" means an individual who has a ten percent or more ownership interest in the
compassion center limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or partnership.
31."Minor" means an individual under the age of nineteen.
32."North Dakota identification" means a North Dakota driver's license or comparable state of
North Dakota or federal issued photo identification card verifying North Dakota residence.
33."Owner" means an individual or an organization with an ownership interest in a compassion
center.
34."Ownership interest" means an aggregate ownership interest of five percent or more in a
compassion center, unless the interest is solely a security, lien, or encumbrance, or an
individual who will be participating in the direction, control, or management of the compassion
center.
35."Pediatric medical marijuana" means a medical marijuana product containing cannabidiol
which may not contain a maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol of more
than six percent. H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 6
36."Physician" means a physician licensed under chapter 43-17 to practice medicine in the state
of North Dakota.
37."Physician assistant" means an individual licensed under chapter 43-17 to practice as a
physician assistant in the state.
38."Posttraumatic stress disorder" means a patient meets the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic
stress disorder under the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", American
psychiatric association, fifth edition, text revision (2013).
39."Processing" or "process" means the compounding or conversion of marijuana into a medical
marijuana product.
40."Producing", "produce", or "production" mean the planting, cultivating, growing, trimming, or
harvesting of the plant of the genus cannabis or the drying of the leaves or flowers of the plant
of the genus cannabis.
41."Qualifying patient" means an individual who has been diagnosed by a health care provider as
having a debilitating medical condition.
42."Registry identification card" means a document issued by the department which identifies an
individual as a registered qualifying patient, registered designated caregiver, or registered
compassion center agent.
43."Substantial corporate change" means:
a.For a corporation, a change of ten percent or more of the officers or directors, or a
transfer of ten percent or more of the stock of the corporation, or an existing stockholder
obtaining ten percent or more of the stock of the corporation;
b.For a limited liability company, a change of ten percent or more of the managing
members of the company, or a transfer of ten percent or more of the ownership interest in
the company, or an existing member obtaining a cumulative of ten percent or more of the
ownership interest in the company; or
c.For a partnership, a change of ten percent or more of the managing partners of the
company, or a transfer of ten percent or more of the ownership interest in the company,
or an existing member obtaining a cumulative of ten percent or more of the ownership
interest in the company.
44."Terminal illness" means a disease, illness, or condition of a patient:
a.For which there is not a reasonable medical expectation of recovery;
b.Which as a medical probability, will result in the death of the patient, regardless of the
use or discontinuance of medical treatment implemented for the purpose of sustaining
life or the life processes; and
c.As a result of which, the patient's health care provider would not be surprised if death
were to occur within six months.
45."Tetrahydrocannabinol" means tetrahydrocannabinols naturally contained in a plant of the
genus cannabis, and synthetic equivalents of the substances contained in the cannabis plant,
or in the resinous extractives of the plant, including synthetic substances, derivatives, and
their isomers with similar chemical structure and pharmacological activity to those substances
contained in the plant, including:
a.(1)Delta-1 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and their optical isomers. Other names:
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 7
(2)Delta-6 or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and their optical isomers. Other names:
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol.
(3)Delta-3, 4 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and its optical isomers.
(Since nomenclature of these substances is not intentionally standardized, compounds of
these structures, regardless of numerical designation or atomic positions covered.)
b.Tetrahydrocannabinol does not include:
(1)The allowable amount of total tetrahydrocannabinol found in hemp as defined in
chapter 4.1-18.1; or
(2)A prescription drug approved by the United States food and drug administration
under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 355].
46."Total tetrahydrocannabinol" means the sum of the percentage by weight of
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid multiplied by eight hundred seventy-seven thousandths plus the
percentage of weight of tetrahydrocannabinol.
47."Usable marijuana" means a medical marijuana product or the dried leaves or flowers of the
plant of the genus cannabis in a combustible delivery form. However, the term does not
include a cannabinoid edible product. In the case of a registered qualifying patient who is a
minor, "usable marijuana" is limited to pediatric medical marijuana.
48."Verification system" means the system maintained by the department under section
19-24.1-31 for verification of registry identification cards.
49."Written certification" means a form established by the department which is executed, dated,
and signed by a health care provider within ninety calendar days of the date of application,
stating the patient has a debilitating medical condition. A health care provider may authorize
an enhanced amount of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis in a
combustible delivery form to treat or alleviate the patient's debilitating medical condition of
cancer. A written certification may not be made except in the course of a bona fide
provider-patient relationship.
SECTION 2. Section 19-24.1-24.1 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as
follows:
19-24.1-24.1. Compassion centers - Cannabinoid edible products.
1.A manufacturing facility may not manufacture a cannabinoid edible product unless the
manufacturing facility has received the prior approval of the department.
2.A dispensary may not possess, market, or sell a cannabinoid edible product unless the
dispensary has received the prior approval of the department.
3.The department may not approve the manufacturing, possession, marketing, or sale of a
cannabinoid edible product unless the department has reviewed and approved the form,
manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and marketing of the cannabinoid edible product.
a.Packaging of a cannabinoid edible product must be resealable, must be child resistant,
and may not be transparent. The maximum concentration or amount of
tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a package is fifty milligrams.
b.Labeling of a cannabinoid edible product must be in black arial font which provides the
name of the product, manufacturer's information, ingredient list, milligrams of
tetrahydrocannabinol per serving, and number of servings per package. The labeling may
not include an image other than text. H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 8
c.Marketing may not target market to minors.
SECTION 3. A new subsection to section 19-24.1-36 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
The department shall adopt rules to regulate the form, manufacturing, packaging, labeling,
and marketing of a cannabinoid edible product. The rules must prohibit the marketing of a
cannabinoid edible product to a minor. H. B. NO. 1203 - PAGE 9
____________________________ ____________________________
Speaker of the House President of the Senate
____________________________ ____________________________
Chief Clerk of the House Secretary of the Senate
This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative
Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No. 1203.
House Vote: Yeas 70 Nays 21 Absent 3
Senate Vote:Yeas 42 Nays 3 Absent 2
____________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Received by the Governor at ________M. on _____________________________________, 2025.
Approved at ________M. on __________________________________________________, 2025.
____________________________
Governor
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025,
at ________ o’clock ________M.
____________________________
Secretary of State