North Dakota Governor signed into law a bill that allows registered medical marijuana patients to purchase certain types of marijuana edibles.
A week or so after the bill from Rep. Steve Vetter was approved by the state legislature, Governor Kelly Armstrong (R) gave it final approval on Monday. Kelly Armstrong, a Republican, approved the measure on Monday.
According to the new law, medical marijuana in the state will now be allowed the sale edible cannabis. This is defined as “soft or difficult lozenges with geometric shapes that incorporate a concentrate of cannabinoids or dried leaves and flowers from the genus Cannabis.”
Although the definition is quite restrictive compared with many other states that have legalized cannabis, supporters are pleased by this development. North Dakotan patients had previously been prohibited from using any other products than flowers, tinctures and capsules.
In order to comply with the law, edibles must contain no more that 5 milligrams THC for each serving. The total amount of THC allowed in an edible package is 50 milligrams.
The sponsor of the bill stated in written testimony that “if the legislation becomes law, this would be the most conservative edibles laws in the country.”
Vetter stated that the bill has many considerations, including rules regarding the appearance of the containers. The medical cannabis community could really benefit from a cannabis strain that has a greater impact on certain conditions.
The edible bill provides safeguards against minors. This bill allows a safer alternative that reduces carcinogen exposure, and ultimately increases the time of relief from debilitating diseases. It is for this reason that most medicines are taken orally. Medical marijuana should follow the same path.
The North Dakota Senate rejected recently a bill passed by the House that would have extended the state’s decriminalization laws for marijuana.
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North Dakota in 2019 enacted what advocacy groups generally refer to as a marijuana decriminalization policy, which removed the risk of jail time for possessing under a half-ounce of cannabis. Possession is still a crime and carries up to a $1,000 in fine.
Instead, HB 1596 made possession of less than half an ounce marijuana as a civil offense.
State voters have not weighed in on simple marijuana decriminalization, though last year they rejected a broader adult-use legalization ballot initiative that would have created a commercial cannabis market. Voters also rejected an earlier legalization proposal at the ballot box in 2022.
Texas Senate passed a bill that prohibits localities from placing marijuana decriminalization measures on ballots.
Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.
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