Caregivers and Minor Patients in North Dakota's Cannabis Program

You might be filling out forms for someone you love, such as a parent who can no longer drive to a dispensary or a child with a serious condition. North Dakota lets a registered designated caregiver help, but the state sets clear rules about who can do it and how. Here's what the law and ND HHS say, plus practical tips for families.

What a Designated Caregiver Does

Under North Dakota Century Code chapter 19-24.1, a designated caregiver is someone at least 21 years old who agrees to manage a registered patient's well-being with respect to the patient's medical use of marijuana. In daily life, that often means buying from a dispensary for the patient, keeping track of supply and helping with use.

A caregiver needs their own registry card, and the law requires a card for each patient they help. A caregiver can't buy or possess more than the allowed amount for each of their patients. North Dakota cardholders can buy only from dispensaries registered with the state program.

Who Can Be a Caregiver

Based on the law and the ND HHS caregiver application instructions, a caregiver:

• Must be at least 21.
• Must provide a copy of a North Dakota ID, and the instructions ask for a North Dakota mailing address.
• Must pass a criminal history record check with fingerprints, at the first application and every other year after that, and any other time the state asks.
• Can't serve if convicted of a drug-related misdemeanor in the past five years or of any felony.
• Can help up to five registered patients, or up to four others if the caregiver is also a patient.

A patient can have up to five designated caregivers. For a patient with a terminal illness or in hospice, the law lets the state handle the background check differently. ND HHS explains the current process.

How the Caregiver Application Works

The patient and caregiver each apply, and the two applications are linked. The steps below follow the ND HHS instructions as of September 2026. The state sets the details and can change them, so read the current version on the ND HHS designated caregivers page.

1. The patient applies firstThe patient's application, along with the clinician's written certification, creates a patient barcode number in the state's online system.
2. The patient authorizes the caregiverThe law requires the patient to authorize the caregiver. Online, the caregiver enters the patient's barcode number to link the two.
3. The caregiver applies separatelyThe caregiver creates an account, then uploads a North Dakota ID and a clear photo that meets the state's photo rules.
4. Fingerprints and background checkAfter the caregiver applies, program staff send fingerprinting information. The caregiver gets fingerprinted at a place of their choice.
5. ND HHS decides on each cardIf the patient can't make their own decisions or can't go to a dispensary alone, ND HHS says the patient's card won't be issued until the caregiver's card is too.

The application also includes a disclosure that having a firearm while possessing marijuana may break federal law. If that affects you, talk with a lawyer before you apply.

Minor Patients and Their Families

North Dakota law defines a minor as anyone under 19. The ND HHS minor patient instructions say the application must be completed by, or with help from, a parent or legal guardian. Other key points from the law and the ND HHS minor patients page:

• A minor must have a designated caregiver. A parent or legal guardian can be the caregiver, or someone else can be registered.
• Minors are limited to "pediatric medical marijuana," which the law defines as a product containing CBD with no more than 6 percent THC.
• A dispensary can't sell directly to a minor. The caregiver buys on the minor's behalf.
• Before issuing a card, ND HHS needs documentation that the minor's health care provider explained the risks to the parent or guardian.
• The parent or guardian must agree in writing to control how the product is bought, the dose and how often it's used. A parent who is the caregiver must also agree to keep it in a locked place.
• The state may waive the minor's application fee in some cases, such as when the parent is the registered caregiver and the child lives with them.

If a minor turns 19 before the card expires, ND HHS describes the options. Not every clinic sees minor patients, so call Will at (218) 274-4500 to ask before you book.

Practical Tips for Families

• Make sure every ID is current and shows the right address before anyone applies.
• Take photos in good light against a plain background, following the state's photo guidelines.
• Watch your email. ND HHS uses email as its first way to reach applicants.
• Store products locked and out of sight, away from children and visitors.
• Don't smoke or vape where a child who isn't the patient would breathe it. State law doesn't protect that.
• Never drive while impaired, and don't let the patient drive impaired either.
• Put card expiration dates on a shared calendar.

Before you start, it helps to talk through these questions as a family:

• Is my family member's condition on North Dakota's list?
• Does the person I'm helping need a caregiver, or can they buy on their own?
• Do I have a current North Dakota ID with my current address?
• Where can I get fingerprinted near Grand Forks?
• How will we store products safely at home?
• Which of their current medicines should the clinician know about?
• Who could be a backup caregiver if I'm sick or away?

Next Steps

Start by checking whether the condition qualifies in North Dakota, then read what to bring to an evaluation. When you're ready, see our North Dakota medical cannabis page or contact us with questions.