About North Dakota
North Dakota is located in the middle of the United States and is bordered by South Dakota to the south, Montana to the west, Manitoba to the north, and Minnesota to the east. The state has a population of just over 700,000 people and there are a number of things to do in North Dakota including visiting attractions like Mount Rushmore National Monument or watching a game at the Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Details about cannabis legalization in North Dakota
Marijuana was outlawed long back in the state of North Dakota in 1933. In 2016, voters passed the North Dakota Compassionate Act, also referred to as Measure 5. This finally legalized the use of Marijuana in North Dakota but only for medical purposes. The General Assembly took about two years to set up the rules and regulations related to the Medical Marijuana Program. In 2017, the home cultivation of cannabis was also prohibited by the legislature.
In May 2019, HB 1050 was passed, which reduced the strictness of Marijuana possession policies. Now possession of up to 0.5 ounces of cannabis is treated as a criminal infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1000, and there is no jail time now for first-time violators of the guidelines.
Later HB 1417 was signed, which allowed patients with terminal illnesses to purchase Marijuana in a larger quantity which should be stated in their MMJ card.
Once you have your MMJ card in North Dakota, you can legally order Marijuana from licensed pharmacies to your house. It remains Illegal in North Dakota to consume Marijuana in public places like parks, pathways, and areas where social gatherings occur. You can consume Medical Marijuana in your private residence or with the owner’s permission if you live in a rented house.
How to get your MMJ card in North Dakota?
North Dakota has decriminalized Marijuana. If you are a medical patient and need Marijuana for medical purposes, you have to apply for a Medical Cannabis Card in North Dakota. The MMJ card serves as a certification from the concerned authorities that your medical conditions require Marijuana for treatment purposes. You cannot buy cannabis legally in North Dakota without an MMJ card because the use of Marijuana for recreational purposes has been banned. To get your MMJ card, there are a few simple steps you should follow:
Fill up the Application
An online application is available at the Department of Health’s website to apply for an MMJ card in North Dakota. You need to use the first step. The application is submitted to the State Department of Health and is processed and verified. All you need to fill in the application are some basic details and medical records. The application will ask for your name, age, gender, and proof that you are a resident of North Dakota. The application may also ask for the medical records to ensure that you legitimately apply for the MMJ card. The application is cross-checked, and upon approval from the State, you can proceed to the next step in getting your MMJ card.
Book an appointment with an MMJ doctor
The next step is to make an appointment with an MMJ doctor in North Dakota. These are 420 doctors who have significant experience and practice in the field of Medical Marijuana. These doctors carry out the evaluation process. In the evaluation process, the doctors check out your medical history and diagnose your current medical conditions. This is done to make sure that medical marijuana treatment will effectively improve your medical needs. The doctors check for qualifying conditions and review the previous medications and remedies you have undergone before the evaluation. The 420 assessment helps the doctors to determine your eligibility for MMJ treatment. The evaluation session can also be taken through video conferencing. Search out the best doctors to get evaluated because this is the central part of the process.
Certification from an MMJ doctor
The medical marijuana doctors in North Dakota give the final certification to be eligible for the MMJ treatment. The result is dependent on the evaluation process that the doctors have taken. If the doctors approve that you need Marijuana for medical purposes, you get a written recommendation or certificate from the registered 420 doctors. This certification allows you to get your MMJ card and is the final step.
You can look forward to KIF clinics to get the best assistance in getting your Medical Cannabis Card in North Dakota. KIF clinics have professional MMJ doctors to carry out the 420 evaluation in the best way possible. The staff and the services are swift and comforting. We at KIF clinics will help you with all the queries you have related to medical marijuana treatment.
Qualifying conditions for Medical Marijuana
A set of diseases and chronic illnesses are tested during the 420 evaluation in North Dakota. These conditions are called qualifying conditions because a patient must be diagnosed with one or more than one of those conditions to get approval for Medical Marijuana. If a patient is suffering from any terminal illnesses, a license for Medical Marijuana is passed. Still, apart from the terminal problems, there are the following conditions that are considered as qualifying criteria:
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Anorexia nervosa
- Anxiety disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Brain injury
- Bulimia nervosa
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Decompensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or elastic skin
- Endometriosis
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Interstitial cystitis
- Migraine
- Neuropathy
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Terminal illness
- Tourette syndrome
- A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or their treatment that produces one or more of the following:
- Cachexia, or wasting syndrome
- Intractable nausea
- Seizures
- Severe debilitating pain that has not responded to conventional treatment for more than three months, or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including multiple sclerosis.
Moreover, North Dakota has set the minimum age for MMJ treatment as 19 years or older. In other States, primarily, the age limit is set to 18 years or above. If you are diagnosed with one or more than one qualifying conditions, you will be eligible for Medical Marijuana Treatment. It is also mandatory to prove that you are a resident of North Dakota. You can provide any of the documents or state-issued IDs which state that residential address. You can provide your birth certificate, driving license, voter ID, or passport to confirm your residential proof. The patient also needs to pay an initial fee, which is the annual card registration fee.
Necessities for a Caregiver in North Dakota
A designated caregiver must be 21 years or above in age. Caregivers are meant to help those patients who cannot carry out the treatment process on their own. A caregiver helps the patient to purchase, possess or transport Marijuana for medical purposes. To register a person as a caregiver, residential proof is needed, proving that the applicant is also a resident of North Dakota. The applicant must submit all the documents along with the patient. The Caregiver must present the driving license or identification card. Then there is a background check to see if there is any criminal background of the person applying for a caregiver. An annual card registration fee is also charged to the Caregiver. A caregiver can be designated to four different patients provided the Caregiver is not himself a patient for the MMJ program.
Possession and cultivation laws in North Dakota
North Dakota does not consider Medical Cannabis Cards from other States. If you are a patient of MMJ treatment in any other state and are moving to North Dakota, you will have to apply for a new MMJ card. Moreover, it is illegal to carry cannabis while crossing any State lines. Hence, you cannot bring your supplies of Marijuana from any other state into North Dakota.
If you have been certified with an MMJ card in North Dakota, you can possess up to 3 grams of cannabis, while patients suffering from terminal illnesses can hold larger quantities with them. If you are a patient of any terminal illness and it has been mentioned on your MMJ card, you can possess up to 7.5 ounces of cannabis for 30 days. Minors or people below 19 cannot include any amount of Marijuana.
Possessing up to 14 grams of cannabis can result in a fine of $1000 if you are not registered and certified with an MMJ card. Possession of more significant amounts can be treated as a felony, and you can be charged with more considerable fines and imprisonment. You are not permitted to cultivate Marijuana on your own. If you are a registered patient or a caregiver, you can get your supplies of Marijuana from licensed and authorized medical dispensaries. The Department of Health strictly monitors the sale and purchase of Marijuana to prevent illegal selling and prohibit selling from unlicensed sources. The Marijuana from licensed stores is well tested on various cultivation parameters to guarantee no harmful effects in the phase of the treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: The minimum age to qualify for medical marijuana treatment in North Dakota is 19 years.
Ans: The average time for the validity of the medical cannabis card in North Dakota is one year. You have to get it renewed after that by submitting a renewal fee and going through an evaluation again to ensure if you still need Marijuana for treatment purposes.
Ans: If the caregiver is not himself going through the treatment, the maximum number of patients he can be designated to is five or four.
Ans: NO, it is illegal to cultivate your cannabis. You must buy cannabis from licensed stores and pharmacies which are under the authorization of the State Department of Health.