A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 19-24.1-01, section 19-24.1-11, and subdivision a of subsection 2 of section 19-24.1-16 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to medical marijuana limitations.
HB 1321 would have expanded North Dakota’s medical marijuana program by increasing the amount of usable cannabis a registered qualifying patient may buy and possess in a 30-day period, as well as raising the allowable THC limits for cannabinoid concentrates and medical cannabinoid products. For patients with an enhanced authorization, the bill would have increased both the monthly purchase cap and the maximum possession limit. It also would have extended registry identification card validity from one year to two years, unless a health care provider set a shorter certification period.
The bill also would have updated the information required on registry identification cards and adjusted the maximum renewal fees that compassion centers may be charged for dispensary and manufacturing facility renewals. In effect, it would have loosened several operational limits in the state’s medical marijuana law while also modifying administrative details for patient cards and provider renewals.
HB 1321 would have amended multiple provisions in Chapter 19-24.1 of the North Dakota Century Code governing medical marijuana. The bill would have changed patient purchase and possession limits, increased THC thresholds, lengthened registry card expiration periods, and raised the cap on compassion center renewal fees. These changes would have affected registered qualifying patients, designated caregivers, health care providers issuing certifications, and licensed compassion centers operating dispensaries or manufacturing facilities.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote details, so there is no direct evidence of debate or floor sentiment. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to have been a patient-expansion and program-relief proposal rather than a restriction, but it ultimately failed, indicating it did not secure enough support for enactment.
The main points of contention likely centered on whether to relax medical marijuana limits and increase THC allowances, which could be viewed by supporters as improving patient access and by opponents as expanding cannabis availability beyond current limits. Another likely issue was the increase in possession and purchase caps for enhanced-authorized patients, along with longer card validity periods and higher renewal fee ceilings for compassion centers. No specific objections or sponsor arguments are available in the provided record.