{"id":3247,"date":"2017-12-17T09:52:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-17T09:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/laws-and-regulations\/north-dakota"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:33:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:33:25","slug":"north-dakota","status":"publish","type":"law","link":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/laws-and-regulations\/north-dakota","title":{"rendered":"North Dakota Weed Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tIs weed legal in North Dakota?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No, adult-use cannabis is illegal in North Dakota. Medical marijuana, however, is legal for qualified patients.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Dakota has decriminalized small amounts of weed. Possession of less than 0.5 ounces as a first offense is considered a criminal infraction with a penalty of no jail time and a fine up to $1,000. Ingesting marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,500. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tLegislative history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

North Dakota's history of marijuana prohibition stretches back to 1933, when the state passed a bill outlawing the plant. Decades later in 2016, voters passed Measure 5, the <\/span>North Dakota Compassionate Care Act<\/span><\/a>. It authorized the sale of medical marijuana the following year but it took the North Dakota Legislative Assembly two years to create regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, legislators prohibited home cultivation of medical marijuana, which voters supported in the ballot initiative. The legislation also extended legal protections to patients, caregivers, and medical marijuana businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2019, Gov. Doug Burgum signed <\/span>HB 1050<\/span><\/a>, reducing marijuana possession penalties. The law reclassified possession of up to 0.5 ounces (14 grams) of cannabis and marijuana-related paraphernalia to a criminal infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and no jail time for first-time offenders.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor signed <\/span>HB 1417<\/span><\/a>, which allowed medical marijuana patients with debilitating cancer to buy more cannabis in a month as long as their medical marijuana card stated the larger amount.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2019, the governor signed <\/span>HB 1519<\/span><\/a>, which expanded the list of debilitating medical conditions. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhere is it safe to purchase weed in North Dakota?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Only registered medical marijuana patients may legally purchase cannabis in North Dakota. Allowed forms of medical marijuana include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n