23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO. 1164 of North Dakota Introduced by Representatives Steiner, Dobervich, Lefor, Meier, Nelson, M. Ruby, Vetter Senators Meyer, Piepkorn, Rummel, Sickler 1 A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 19-24.1 of the North Dakota 2 Century Code, relating to limitations on cannabinoid edible products; and to amend and reenact 3 section 19-24.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definition of cannabinoid 4 edible products. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: 6 SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 19-24.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is 7 amended and reenacted as follows: 8 19-24.1-01. Definitions. 9 As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise: 10 1. "Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice registered nurse 11 defined under section 43-12.1-02. 12 2. "Allowable amount of usable marijuana" means the amount of usable marijuana a 13 registered qualifying patient or registered designated caregiver may purchase in a 14 thirty-day period under this chapter. 15 a. Except as provided under subdivision b: 16 (1) During a thirty-day period, a registered qualifying patient may not purchase 17 or have purchased by a registered designated caregiver more than two and 18 one-half ounces [70.87 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the 19 genus cannabis in a combustible delivery form. 20 (2) At any time a registered qualifying patient, or a registered designated 21 caregiver on behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not possess more 22 than three ounces [85.05 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of 23 the genus cannabis in a combustible delivery form. Page No. 1 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 b. Notwithstanding subdivision a, if a registered qualifying patient has a registry 2 identification card authorizing an enhanced allowable amount: 3 (1) During a thirty-day period a registered qualifying patient may not purchase 4 or have purchased by a registered designated caregiver more than six 5 ounces [170.01 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus 6 cannabis in a combustible delivery form. 7 (2) At any time a registered qualifying patient, or a registered designated 8 caregiver on behalf of a registered qualifying patient, may not possess more 9 than seven and one-half ounces [212.62 grams] of dried leaves or flowers of 10 the plant of the genus cannabis in a combustible delivery form. 11 c. A registered qualifying patient may not purchase or have purchased by a 12 registered designated caregiver more than the maximum concentration or 13 amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a thirty-day period. The maximum 14 concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a thirty-day period 15 for a cannabinoid concentrate or medical cannabinoid product, or the cumulative 16 total of both, is four thousand milligrams. 17 3. "Bona fide provider-patient relationship" means a treatment or counseling relationship 18 between a health care provider and patient in which all the following are present: 19 a. The health care provider has reviewed the patient's relevant medical records and 20 completed a full assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical 21 condition, including a relevant, in-person, medical evaluation of the patient. 22 b. The health care provider has created and maintained records of the patient's 23 condition in accordance with medically accepted standards. 24 c. The patient is under the health care provider's continued care for the debilitating 25 medical condition that qualifies the patient for the medical use of marijuana. 26 d. The health care provider has a reasonable expectation that provider will continue 27 to provide followup care to the patient to monitor the medical use of marijuana as 28 a treatment of the patient's debilitating medical condition. 29 e. The relationship is not for the sole purpose of providing written certification for the 30 medical use of marijuana. Page No. 2 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 4. "Cannabinoid" means a chemical compound that is one of the active constituents of 2 marijuana. 3 5. "Cannabinoid capsule" means a small, soluble container, usually made of gelatin, 4 which encloses a dose of a cannabinoid product or a cannabinoid concentrate 5 intended for consumption. The maximum concentration of amount of 6 tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a serving of a cannabinoid capsule is fifty 7 milligrams. 8 6. "Cannabinoid concentrate" means a concentrate or extract obtained by separating 9 cannabinoids from marijuana by a mechanical, chemical, or other process. 10 7. "Cannabinoid edible product" means a food or potable liquid into which a cannabinoid 11 concentrate or the dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis is 12 incorporated. The maximum concentration of the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol 13 permitted in a serving of a cannabinoid edible product is five milligrams. 14 8. "Cannabinoid solution" means a solution consisting of a mixture created from 15 cannabinoid concentrate and other ingredients. A container holding a cannabinoid 16 solution for dispensing may not exceed thirty milliliters. 17 9. "Cannabinoid topical" means a cannabinoid product intended to be applied to the skin 18 or hair. The maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol permitted in a 19 cannabinoid topical is six percent. 20 10. "Cannabinoid transdermal patch" means an adhesive substance applied to the skin 21 which contains a cannabinoid product or cannabinoid concentrate for absorption into 22 the bloodstream. The maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol 23 permitted in a serving of a cannabinoid transdermal patch is fifty milligrams. 24 11. "Cardholder" means a qualifying patient, designated caregiver, or compassion center 25 agent who has been issued and possesses a valid registry identification card. 26 12. "Compassion center" means a manufacturing facility or dispensary. 27 13. "Compassion center agent" means a principal officer, board member, member, 28 manager, governor, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center. The term 29 does not include a lawyer representing a compassion center in civil or criminal 30 litigation or in an adversarial administrative proceeding. 31 14. "Contaminated" means made impure or inferior by extraneous substances. Page No. 3 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 15. "Debilitating medical condition" means one of the following: 2 a. Cancer; 3 b. Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus; 4 c. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; 5 d. Decompensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C; 6 e. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; 7 f. Posttraumatic stress disorder; 8 g. Agitation of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia; 9 h. Crohn's disease; 10 i. Fibromyalgia; 11 j. Spinal stenosis or chronic back pain, including neuropathy or damage to the 12 nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of 13 intractable spasticity; 14 k. Glaucoma; 15 l. Epilepsy; 16 m. Anorexia nervosa; 17 n. Bulimia nervosa; 18 o. Anxiety disorder; 19 p. Tourette syndrome; 20 q. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; 21 r. Endometriosis; 22 s. Interstitial cystitis; 23 t. Neuropathy; 24 u. Migraine; 25 v. Rheumatoid arthritis; 26 w. Autism spectrum disorder; 27 x. A brain injury; 28 y. A terminal illness; or 29 z. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or treatment for such 30 disease or medical condition that produces one or more of the following: 31 (1) Cachexia or wasting syndrome; Page No. 4 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 (2) Severe debilitating pain that has not responded to previously prescribed 2 medication or surgical measures for more than three months or for which 3 other treatment options produced serious side effects; 4 (3) Intractable nausea; 5 (4) Seizures; or 6 (5) Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of 7 multiple sclerosis. 8 16. "Department" means the department of health and human services. 9 17. "Designated caregiver" means an individual who agrees to manage the well-being of a 10 registered qualifying patient with respect to the qualifying patient's medical use of 11 marijuana. 12 18. "Dispensary" means an entity registered by the department as a compassion center 13 authorized to dispense usable marijuana to a registered qualifying patient and a 14 registered designated caregiver. 15 19. "Enclosed, locked facility" means a closet, room, greenhouse, building, or other 16 enclosed area equipped with locks or other security devices that permit access limited 17 to individuals authorized under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter. 18 20. "Health care provider" means a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced 19 practice registered nurse. 20 21. "Manufacturing facility" means an entity registered by the department as a compassion 21 center authorized to produce and process and to sell usable marijuana to a 22 dispensary. 23 22. "Marijuana" means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis; the seeds of the plant; 24 the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, 25 derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, the seeds of the plant, or the resin 26 extracted from any part of the plant. The term marijuana does not include: 27 a. Hemp as regulated under section 4.1-18.1-01; or 28 b. A prescription drug approved by the United States food and drug administration 29 under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 355]. Page No. 5 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 23. "Maximum concentration or amount of tetrahydrocannabinol" means the total amount 2 of tetrahydrocannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in a medical cannabinoid 3 product or a cannabinoid concentrate. 4 24. "Medical cannabinoid product" means a product intended for human consumption or 5 use which contains cannabinoids. 6 a. Medical cannabinoid products are limited to the following forms: 7 (1) Cannabinoid solution; 8 (2) Cannabinoid capsule; 9 (3) Cannabinoid transdermal patch; and 10 (4) Cannabinoid topical; and 11 (5) Cannabinoid edible product. 12 b. "Medical cannabinoid product" does not include: 13 (1) A cannabinoid edible product; 14 (2) A cannabinoid concentrate by itself; or 15 (3)(2) The dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis by itself. 16 25. "Medical marijuana product" means a cannabinoid concentrate or a medical 17 cannabinoid product. 18 26. "Medical marijuana waste" means unused, surplus, returned, or out-of-date usable 19 marijuana; recalled usable marijuana; unused marijuana; or plant debris of the plant of 20 the genus cannabis, including dead plants and all unused plant parts and roots. 21 27. "Medical use of marijuana" means the acquisition, use, and possession of usable 22 marijuana to treat or alleviate a qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition. 23 28. "Minor" means an individual under the age of nineteen. 24 29. "North Dakota identification" means a North Dakota driver's license or comparable 25 state of North Dakota or federal issued photo identification card verifying North Dakota 26 residence. 27 30. "Owner" means an individual or an organization with an ownership interest in a 28 compassion center. 29 31. "Ownership interest" means an aggregate ownership interest of five percent or more in 30 a compassion center, unless the interest is solely a security, lien, or encumbrance, or Page No. 6 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 an individual who will be participating in the direction, control, or management of the 2 compassion center. 3 32. "Pediatric medical marijuana" means a medical marijuana product containing 4 cannabidiol which may not contain a maximum concentration or amount of 5 tetrahydrocannabinol of more than six percent. 6 33. "Physician" means a physician licensed under chapter 43-17 to practice medicine in 7 the state of North Dakota. 8 34. "Physician assistant" means an individual licensed under chapter 43-17 to practice as 9 a physician assistant in the state. 10 35. "Posttraumatic stress disorder" means a patient meets the diagnostic criteria for 11 posttraumatic stress disorder under the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental 12 Disorders", American psychiatric association, fifth edition, text revision (2013). 13 36. "Processing" or "process" means the compounding or conversion of marijuana into a 14 medical marijuana product. 15 37. "Producing", "produce", or "production" mean the planting, cultivating, growing, 16 trimming, or harvesting of the plant of the genus cannabis or the drying of the leaves 17 or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis. 18 38. "Qualifying patient" means an individual who has been diagnosed by a health care 19 provider as having a debilitating medical condition. 20 39. "Registry identification card" means a document issued by the department which 21 identifies an individual as a registered qualifying patient, registered designated 22 caregiver, or registered compassion center agent. 23 40. "Substantial corporate change" means: 24 a. For a corporation, a change of ten percent or more of the officers or directors, or 25 a transfer of ten percent or more of the stock of the corporation, or an existing 26 stockholder obtaining ten percent or more of the stock of the corporation; 27 b. For a limited liability company, a change of ten percent or more of the managing 28 members of the company, or a transfer of ten percent or more of the ownership 29 interest in the company, or an existing member obtaining a cumulative of ten 30 percent or more of the ownership interest in the company; or Page No. 7 23.0210.02000 Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly 1 c. For a partnership, a change of ten percent or more of the managing partners of 2 the company, or a transfer of ten percent or more of the ownership interest in the 3 company, or an existing member obtaining a cumulative of ten percent or more of 4 the ownership interest in the company. 5 41. "Terminal illness" means a disease, illness, or condition of a patient: 6 a. For which there is not a reasonable medical expectation of recovery; 7 b. Which as a medical probability, will result in the death of the patient, regardless of 8 the use or discontinuance of medical treatment implemented for the purpose of 9 sustaining life or the life processes; and 10 c. As a result of which, the patient's health care provider would not be surprised if 11 death were to occur within six months. 12 42. "Tetrahydrocannabinol" means tetrahydrocannabinols naturally contained in a plant of 13 the genus cannabis, and synthetic equivalents of the substances contained in the 14 cannabis plant, or in the resinous extractives of the plant, including synthetic 15 substances, derivatives, and their isomers with similar chemical structure and