Previously restricted to flower, concentrates, liquids, tinctures, capsules and topical patches, medical cannabis patients in North Dakota will have another option – edibles.
In November 2016, the state’s voters approved the “North Dakota Compassionate Care Act”. The following year, laws were enacted requiring the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) to establish and implement a medical marijuana program.
The program has evolved since those early years and as at early April this year, 10,437 patients were registered. Among the program’s qualifying conditions are cancer, ALS, PTSD, anxiety disorder, Crohn’s disease and fibromyalgia.
The evolution continues with Governor Kelly Armstrong signing off on HB1203 last week, which introduced edibles. But unlike some other states, the types of edibles allowed will be heavily restricted.
In HB1203, edibles are defined as soft or hard lozenges 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. The restriction on the form is to discourage products being available that may be particularly attractive or targeted towards minors. Furthermore, the permitted form, packaging, or labeling cannot be target marketed to minors.
Additionally, the maximum amount of the intoxicating cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) permitted in a serving of a cannabinoid edible product is five milligrams; and in a package, fifty milligrams. All packaging of edibles must be resealable, child resistant, may not be transparent and labelling must not include images, only text.
The primary sponsor of HB1203, Representative Steve Vetter previously stated HB1203 would be the most conservative edibles law in the USA, and with the most safeguards.
When the bill passed in the Senate in early April, Rep. Vetter said:
“This will help out hundreds of ND citizens to have a healthier and safer choice to deal with pain issues.”
Further information on North Dakota’s medical marijuana program can be found here.
There has also been an ongoing push to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. A petition effort to get the issue in front of voters on last November’s ballot gathered more than 22,000 signatures – blasting past the minimum requirement of 15,582. But it was defeated at the ballot box, with 52.53% of North Dakota voters against it.
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