ND’s medical marijuana program grows

The number of qualifying patients in North Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Program continues to grow.

A 2023 report shows there were 9,596 registered patients with ID cards for the year ending June 30th. That compares to 7,958 the previous year and just 707 during the start-up year in 2019. Dispensary sales in the 2023 totaled some $21.6 million dollars.

Jason Wahl is the Director of North Dakota’s Division of Medical Marijuana. Wahl says medical professionals diagnosed 15,568 different conditions – with anxiety disorder being tops on the list.  “Health care professionals are allowed to select more than one medical condition and for the most part we do see that.”

Wahl told a recent legislative committee hearing that they are aware of some cases where a patient has sold the product for recreational purposes.  He says those caught doing so risk losing their ID card – at least temporarily.

Among counties with qualifying patients Cass is tops at 24%…followed by Ward at 13%…Burleigh at 12% and Grand Forks at 9%.