North Dakota: Governor Signs Medical Cannabis Expansion Laws

Originally published at blog.NORML.org

Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation on Wednesday amending and expanding the state’s nascent medical cannabis access program.

House Bill 1283 permits physician assistants to recommend cannabis to qualified patients. House Bill 1417 permits patients with cancer to possess enhanced amounts of cannabis flower (up to six ounces) when explicitly authorized by a recommending health care provider. House Bill 1519 significantly expands the pool of patients eligible for medical cannabis therapy to include those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, migraine, anorexia, and Tourette Syndrome, among other debilitating conditions.

Though approved by voters in November 2016, the state’s medical cannabis access program is not yet fully operational. A single dispensary opened in Fargo in March, and additional licensed facilities are anticipated to open later this summer.

For more information on pending state legislation, visit NORML’s Take Action Center here.