Record Review
Dr. Ewals reviews the records you send ahead, so your visit focuses on you, not paperwork.
Records by email or faxTelehealth Throughout North Dakota & Minnesota or In-Office in Grand Forks
Medical Cannabis Card EvaluationsOnline or In Person
Find out whether you qualify for a medical cannabis card in North Dakota or Minnesota. Meet with Dr. Charlotte Ewals, DNP, FNP-BC, for a personalized evaluation, transparent pricing, and guidance through your state's application.
3Things to bring: photo ID, medical records and your medication list
2Separate fees: our evaluation and your state's application
1Provider for every visit: Dr. Charlotte Ewals, DNP, FNP-BC
ND + MNIn-person or telehealth
Prequalify for free
See If You Qualify
Answer three questions to see which visit to book and what to prepare. Nothing is saved.
Your next step
Answer Three Questions
See the right visit, its fee and anything to prepare first. No medical details needed.
You look ready
Request a Consultation
$250$50 deposit to book, balance before your visit
Send your medical records before your visit and bring a photo ID. Dr. Ewals decides on certification at your appointment.
One thing first
Start with Your Records
Ask the clinic that treats your condition for recent notes, test results or specialist letters. Our free letter tool writes the request for you.
Welcome back
Request a Consultation
$230returning patient fee
Request a visit about three to four weeks before your card expires so the state has time to process it.
Worth a call first
For ND and MN Residents
State programs certify their own residents, so we can't evaluate you for another state's card. If you're moving here, call Will and he'll explain what applies.
North Dakota Medical Marijuana CardConditions, steps, costs and renewals
Minnesota Medical Cannabis ProgramConditions, steps, costs and renewals
Please tell us before your visit if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a history of psychosis. Dr. Ewals will review it with you.
ND vs MN
North Dakota vs Minnesota Medical Cannabis Programs
Dr. Ewals certifies patients in both states. Here is how the two programs differ.
| Topic | North Dakota | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Runs the program | ND Health & Human Services | Office of Cannabis Management |
| Who starts it | Patient application, then practitioner certification | Practitioner certification, then patient enrollment |
| State fee | $40 | None |
| Valid for | 2 years | 3 years |
| Residency | ND residents; 60-day visitor card for other states' cardholders | MN residents; visitors can buy but not enroll |
The visit
What to Expect at Your Evaluation
A private, one-on-one visit with Dr. Ewals, in person or by telehealth.
Your Medical History
Your condition, symptoms, current medications and the treatments you've already tried.
One provider, every visitSafety and Daily Life
Side effects, driving, work, medication interactions, and how to start low and go slow if you're certified.
Practical, easy-to-follow adviceCertification Decision
If certification is appropriate, Dr. Ewals completes her part of your state's process and explains your next steps. If not, she explains why.
The state makes the final decision on your cardWhat to bring
What to Bring to Your Evaluation
Check them off as you go. Saved on this device only.
0 of 3 ready
Please don't upload records here. Email them to info@alternativehealthgf.com (a MyChart download is perfect) or fax them to (701) 757-0974.
Cost
Medical Cannabis Evaluation Cost
A $50 deposit books your visit; the rest of our fee is due before your appointment. State fees are separate.
New Patient Evaluation
$250Record review, your visit with Dr. Ewals and, if appropriate, her certification.
$50 deposit to book, balance before your visitRecertification
$230For patients Dr. Ewals certified before. How renewal works
$50 deposit to book, balance before your visitState Registration
ND $40 · MN $0North Dakota charges a $40 application fee; Minnesota charges patients nothing. Details: ND portal, MN program.
Paid to the state when you apply
Insurance not accepted
Fees aren't refundable
What an evaluation costs, in detail
After your visit
Who Does What Next
If you're certified, your state reviews your application and sets the processing time.
You
- Finish the state application
- Pay any state fee
- Watch for the state's decision
Us
- Complete the provider certification
- Answer questions about the process
- Recertify you when it's time to renew
The state
- Reviews your application
- Issues your registry card
- Sets how long it's valid
Traveling? Cannabis laws differ between states, and federal law differs from state law. Check before you cross a border, including the river into Minnesota.
Book online
Pick a Time That Works
New or returning? Choose below and book a time straight into Dr. Ewals' calendar.
FAQ
Medical cannabis evaluation questions, answered. Still unsure? Call Will at (218) 274-4500.
See every questionWhat should I bring to a medical cannabis evaluation?
A government-issued photo ID that shows your North Dakota or Minnesota address, and medical records that document your qualifying condition. Please get your records to us before the visit so Dr. Ewals has time to review them. Not sure how to request records? Call and Will can walk you through it.
Can I get a same-day medical cannabis evaluation?
Alternative Health may offer same-day medical evaluations, in Grand Forks or by telehealth, when appointments are available. A same-day visit doesn't mean same-day state approval: North Dakota usually takes 2 to 4 weeks, and Minnesota usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Call Will at (218) 274-4500 to check today's openings.
How long does a certification last?
A North Dakota card lasts 2 years. A Minnesota registration lasts 3 years (checked October 2026). Each time it runs out, you need a new certification from Dr. Ewals and a renewal with the state. The official North Dakota and Minnesota program pages have the latest rules.
Which conditions qualify?
Each state has its own list. North Dakota names about two dozen conditions, such as cancer, PTSD, epilepsy, migraine and fibromyalgia, plus long-term conditions that cause severe pain, nausea, seizures or muscle spasms. Minnesota lists 19 conditions and lets the certifying provider approve others when cannabis would help (checked October 2026). Send records that show your diagnosis and we'll tell you where you stand.
I already have a diagnosis. Do I still need records?
Yes. The state needs a clinician's written confirmation of a qualifying condition, and Dr. Ewals needs something on paper to base it on: a visit note, a specialist letter or a printout from your patient portal all work. If you have the condition but nothing written down, call us and we'll help you figure out where to get it.
What happens after my evaluation?
If Dr. Ewals finds you qualify, you finish an online application and the state decides. In North Dakota, you apply on the state's registration site, name Dr. Ewals as your provider and pay a $40 state fee; she then completes your certification online. In Minnesota, she enters your certification first and the state emails you a link to enroll, with no state fee. Once approved, you buy from a licensed dispensary in your state.
Is there anything that might make certification inappropriate?
Eligibility is set by state law and by clinical judgment. Please tell us ahead of time if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history of psychosis, or don't live in North Dakota or Minnesota. These can affect whether certification is right for you.
Can I use my card in another state?
Only where that state allows it, so check before you go. North Dakota doesn't accept other states' cards, but visitors who have one can buy a 60-day North Dakota card online for $40. Minnesota lets visiting patients with another state's card buy at its medical dispensaries (checked October 2026). Federal law still doesn't allow carrying cannabis across state lines.
Can I drive after using medical cannabis?
Not while impaired. Driving under the influence is illegal in both states, and being a registered patient is not a defense. Dr. Ewals will talk with you about timing, dosing and forms that make impairment less likely.
Can cannabis be habit-forming?
Yes, it can. Cannabis use disorder is possible, and the risk is higher with frequent use and high-THC products. Dr. Ewals will talk through risks, side effects, driving and medication interactions with you.
Are you connected to a dispensary?
No. We're an independent clinic. We don't sell cannabis, and we don't receive payments from dispensaries or pharmacies.
No match on this page. Try all FAQs or call us.
Guides
Read Before You Visit
Patient guides with sources you can check. All guides
North Dakota cannabis process · 5 min
North Dakota Medical Cannabis Evaluation: What to Bring and What Happens
What to gather before your North Dakota medical cannabis evaluation, what the clinician will ask, and what the state handles after your visit.
North Dakota cannabis process · 4 min
ND Renewal Versus a First-Time Evaluation: What Changes
How a North Dakota medical cannabis renewal visit differs from a first evaluation, what stays the same, and how to plan your timing.
Minnesota cannabis process · 4 min
Minnesota Medical Cannabis Registration: The Current Patient Steps
A plain overview of how Minnesota medical cannabis registration works, from certification to state approval, and where to confirm current rules.
Ready when you are
Ready to Find Out If You Qualify?
Compassionate medical cannabis evaluations, in person or by telehealth, with clear answers and transparent pricing from Dr. Charlotte Ewals.