Bill > HB1596

This bill modifies North Dakota's laws regarding marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) possession and use, primarily by changing penalties and creating a new noncriminal citation system. For individuals under 18 years old, ingesting marijuana or THC would now be considered an infraction instead of a class B misdemeanor. The bill reduces criminal penalties for marijuana and THC possession, introducing a tiered system based on quantity and age. Specifically, for adults 21 and older, possession of small amounts (less than half an ounce of marijuana or two grams of THC) would result in a noncriminal citation with a $150 fee, while individuals under 21 would face infractions. The bill also modifies record-sealing provisions, allowing court records to be sealed for first-time offenses involving less than 500 grams of marijuana or 4 grams of THC if no subsequent violations occur within two years. For drug paraphernalia, the bill establishes different penalties based on age, with those under 18 facing infractions and those 18 and older receiving noncriminal citations. The new provisions aim to reduce criminal penalties for minor marijuana-related offenses while maintaining a structured approach to addressing such violations.

Justice

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1596.html