North Dakota • MEDICAL CARD GUIDE
How to Get Your North Dakota Medical Marijuana Card
North Dakota runs a medical-only program with about 9,700 patients and no delivery at all.
North Dakota voters approved medical cannabis in 2016 and have rejected adult-use legalization three times since, most recently in 2024. The medical program that resulted is small, orderly and entirely in person: patients or their registered caregivers buy at a licensed dispensary, and no dispensary may deliver. If you qualify, the application is straightforward and runs through the state Health and Human Services portal.
Quick Facts
Qualifying Conditions
North Dakota has expanded its condition list several times since 2016, and it is now longer than most people expect for a state this size.
- Cancer
- HIV or AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Agitation of Alzheimer disease or related dementia
- Crohn disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Spinal stenosis or chronic back pain
- Glaucoma
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Decompensated cirrhosis
- Terminal illness
- Anorexia nervosa or bulimia
- Endometriosis
- Interstitial cystitis
- Neuropathy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Tourette syndrome
- A chronic or debilitating condition producing cachexia, severe debilitating pain, intractable nausea, seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms
The final entry is the catch-all pathway and carries a large share of registrations. North Dakota also periodically adds named conditions by rule, so a condition rejected several years ago may qualify now.
Finding a Certifying Provider
North Dakota requires a written certification from a licensed provider with whom you have a genuine treating relationship. Physicians, advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants may certify within their scope.
Your own provider
Standard office visit rateThe intended route, and the practical one in a state with a small population and long distances. Your chart already documents the condition the certification depends on.
Certification clinics
Roughly 100 to 200 dollarsFewer of these exist here than in larger states, mostly around Fargo and Bismarck. Confirm they will complete the North Dakota certification specifically.
Telehealth
Varies by serviceUseful given the distances, within a genuine treating relationship. Confirm the provider is licensed in North Dakota before paying anything.
Tip: Ask your provider whether your condition supports a higher purchase allowance. North Dakota permits larger amounts for certain conditions, and that determination is made at certification rather than at the dispensary counter.
The Application Process
North Dakota runs an online registry through Health and Human Services, following a written certification.
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Confirm North Dakota residency and a qualifying condition
You need a North Dakota driver license or state ID and a condition on the program list, which is long and periodically expanded.
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Get a written certification
A licensed North Dakota provider completes the certification, documenting the qualifying condition and, where applicable, a higher purchase allowance.
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Apply through the state portal
Submit the application with your certification, identification and photo. Caregivers register separately and are subject to a background check.
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Pay the application fee
North Dakota charges a state application fee with a reduced rate for qualifying applicants, including some on state assistance programs.
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Buy in person at a licensed dispensary
Bring your card and photo ID. Dispensary delivery is not permitted in North Dakota, so the purchase has to happen at the counter, by you or a registered caregiver.
Costs and Fees
North Dakota is a moderately priced program, with the reduced fee worth asking about.
- State application fee A set fee, reduced for qualifying applicants
- Provider certification Office rate, or 100 to 200 dollars at a clinic
- Caregiver registration Separate application and background check
- Annual renewal Fresh certification plus the application fee
- Dispensary products Retail pricing plus applicable sales tax
Total Estimate: 150 to 300 dollars for the first year
After You Are Approved
A small program run conservatively. Knowing the limits avoids a wasted drive.
- Purchase at any licensed North Dakota dispensary with your card and photo ID
- Roughly 3 ounces of dried flower per 30 days, with higher allowances for some conditions
- Access to flower, tinctures, capsules, topicals and limited low-dose edible forms
- A registered caregiver may purchase and transport on your behalf
- No delivery. Every purchase is collected in person
- No home cultivation for patients or caregivers
- No adult-use market to fall back on. Voters rejected legalization in 2018, 2022 and 2024
Renewal
North Dakota cards run one year and renewal requires a fresh written certification plus another application. Because there is no adult-use market here, a lapsed card leaves you with no lawful source at all, which is a sharper consequence than in neighboring Minnesota or Montana.
Timeline: Start 45 days out. Provider availability is the constraint in rural areas, and telehealth within an existing relationship is the usual workaround.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many patients are in the program?
Approximately 9,700 registered patients statewide, which is small in absolute terms but a meaningful share of a state this size.
Is delivery available?
No. North Dakota does not permit dispensary delivery. Purchases must be made in person by the patient or a registered caregiver.
Can I grow my own?
No. North Dakota does not permit home cultivation for patients or caregivers. Every legal gram comes from a licensed dispensary.
How much can I buy?
Roughly three ounces of dried flower in a 30-day period, with higher allowances available for certain conditions when the provider documents them at certification.
Is adult-use legalization coming?
North Dakota voters rejected legalization measures in 2018, 2022 and 2024. The medical program remains the only lawful route.
Is delta-8 a legal alternative?
No. Delta-8 and converted THC isomers are excluded from the North Dakota hemp definition and are not legal for retail sale here.
Does North Dakota accept out-of-state cards?
No. The registry is for North Dakota residents, and out-of-state patients cannot buy from a North Dakota dispensary.
Can I buy in Minnesota or Montana instead?
You can buy there as an adult 21 or older under their laws, but bringing product back into North Dakota is unlawful here and crossing a state line is a federal issue regardless.
More North Dakota guides
The North Dakota cannabis guide covers legal status, licensed retail by city, and neighborhood-level pages for this state.
