Hemp Laws & Licensing · ND

North Dakota hemp laws & licensing

Verified September 29, 2026Medium confidenceClosed on GHD

At a glance

Retail license / registration required?
No — …processors ($200) through the Department of Agriculture and does not license hemp retailers, but it tightly limits…
Minimum age
No state age rule stated
State THC caps (hemp products)
No state cap stated
Hemp-derived THC products · online sales
Cannabis system only / banned · online: Prohibited
Key law
N.D.C.C. ch. 4.1-18.1 (HB 1045 (2021); SB 2096 (2023)); NDDA hemp product rules and Aug 2024 advisory — effective August 1, 2023

The law today

North Dakota licenses hemp growers ($100–$350) and processors ($200) through the Department of Agriculture and does not license hemp retailers, but it tightly limits what hemp products may be sold: hemp is defined by total THC (THCA × 0.877 + delta-9) at or below 0.3%, delta-8 products are excluded from the hemp definition (SB 2096, 2023), chemically derived cannabinoids (THC-O, HHC, THCP) and any hemp-extract inhalant/vape are prohibited, and only commissioner-approved product types (fiber, untreated cured flower, hemp seed foods, CBD/CBG isolates and broad/full-spectrum products) are allowed.

Under NDAC 7-20 a cannabinoid hemp product must not exceed 5 mg total THC per serving, must keep a total CBD:total THC ratio above 15:1, must carry an independent-lab COA (in store or by QR code), child-resistant tamper-evident packaging and FDA/THC warnings, and may not make medical claims. Adult-use cannabis is not legal; medical marijuana is run by ND Health & Human Services.

Who regulates it

Licenses & registrations

The law

Testing & COAs

NDAC 7-20-01 – COA from an independent lab required, available in store or via QR code on labelndlegis.gov (opens in a new tab)

Need a lab? COA analysis partners

Steps to a compliant hemp business in North Dakota

  1. 1

    Register the business with the ND Secretary of State and obtain a sales tax permit

  2. 2

    Growers: apply for the NDDA Hemp Grower License (SFN 58476) with the SFN 60688 criminal history check ($100–$350 + $40)

  3. 3

    Processors: apply for the NDDA Hemp Processor License (SFN 61613, $200 + $40)

  4. 4

    Sell only commissioner-approved product types: no delta-8, THC-O, HHC, THCP or hemp vapes/inhalants

  5. 5

    Meet NDAC 7-20 standards – ≤5 mg total THC per serving, CBD:THC >15:1, independent COA, child-resistant packaging and required warnings

On Good Hemp Distro

Recreational (21+) market in North Dakota

Closed on GHD

The Recreational (21+) market isn't available in North Dakota: state law only allows these hemp products through its licensed cannabis system, if at all.

State law: cannabis system only.

Browse Everyday Hemp, Industrial & Services →

Live status — it changes as state rules are verified and as the federal cutoff approaches. Everyday Hemp, Industrial and Services products are available everywhere.

Sources & verification

Verified
September 29, 2026 — every official link above was fetched and checked on that date.
Confidence
Medium confidence — Some links or dates rely on secondary sources or pending rulemaking; see the notes.
Research notes
NDDA hemp page, grower application PDF (SFN 58476 rev. 04-2026), NDCC 4.1-18.1 and NDAC 7-20-01 all loaded 2026-09-29; the online portal loads but shows only a login shell. No state statute setting an age minimum for hemp product sales was verified (third-party sites claim 21+). ND HHS medical marijuana page not fetched, so cannabis_agency left null.
Good Hemp Distro market notes
Statute bans delta-8 and chemically derived cannabinoids and lets the Agriculture Commissioner disapprove psychotropic hemp products; NDDA says THC gummies and drinks are not allowed. Inbound non-compliant shipments subject to seizure. (Recreational (21+) state dataset, version 2026-09-28)

Cited sources

North Dakota hemp law FAQ

Short answers drawn from the official North Dakota sources above (verified September 29, 2026). Not legal advice.

Do I need a license to sell hemp products in North Dakota?
North Dakota does not issue a hemp retail license: processors ($200) through the Department of Agriculture and does not license hemp retailers, but it tightly limits what hemp products may be sold: hemp is defined by total THC (THCA × 0.877 + delta-9) at or below 0.3%, delta-8 products are excluded from the hemp definition (SB 2096, 2023), chemically derived cannabinoids (THC-O, HHC, THCP) and any hemp-extract inhalant/vape are prohibited, and only commissioner-approved product types (fiber, untreated cured flower, hemp seed foods, CBD/CBG isolates and broad/full-spectrum products) are allowed. Official link: Hemp Grower License – application SFN 58476 (2026) (ndda.nd.gov) — fee: $100 (1 lot), $200 (2 lots), $300 (3 lots), $350 (4+ lots) + $40 background check. Federal rules (USDA grower licensing, FDA labeling, carrier policies) still apply.
Who regulates hemp in North Dakota?
North Dakota Department of Agriculture – Plant Industries Division (Hemp) — Hemp grower and processor licensing; sets allowable hemp product standards (NDCC 4.1-18.1, NDAC 7-20).
What are North Dakota's hemp laws in 2026?
North Dakota licenses hemp growers ($100–$350) and processors ($200) through the Department of Agriculture and does not license hemp retailers, but it tightly limits what hemp products may be sold: hemp is defined by total THC (THCA × 0.877 + delta-9) at or below 0.3%, delta-8 products are excluded from the hemp definition (SB 2096, 2023), chemically derived cannabinoids (THC-O, HHC, THCP) and any hemp-extract inhalant/vape are prohibited, and only commissioner-approved product types (fiber, untreated cured flower, hemp seed foods, CBD/CBG isolates and broad/full-spectrum products) are allowed. Under NDAC 7-20 a cannabinoid hemp product must not exceed 5 mg total THC per serving, must keep a total CBD:total THC ratio above 15:1, must carry an independent-lab COA (in store or by QR code), child-resistant tamper-evident packaging and FDA/THC warnings, and may not make medical claims. Key law: N.D.C.C. ch. 4.1-18.1 (HB 1045 (2021); SB 2096 (2023)); NDDA hemp product rules and Aug 2024 advisory (effective August 1, 2023).
What is the minimum age to buy hemp products in North Dakota?
North Dakota states no minimum age for hemp products in the sources verified September 29, 2026; Good Hemp Distro is 21+ everywhere regardless.
Does North Dakota cap THC in hemp products?
North Dakota sets no state-level milligram cap in the verified dataset; the federal definition (total THC including THCA at or below 0.3% dry weight) applies, and the state law summary above lists any product rules.
Does North Dakota require lab testing (a COA) for hemp products?
NDAC 7-20-01 – COA from an independent lab required, available in store or via QR code on label. Official page: ndlegis.gov
How do I start a compliant hemp business in North Dakota?
1. Register the business with the ND Secretary of State and obtain a sales tax permit. 2. Growers: apply for the NDDA Hemp Grower License (SFN 58476) with the SFN 60688 criminal history check ($100–$350 + $40). 3. Processors: apply for the NDDA Hemp Processor License (SFN 61613, $200 + $40). 4. Sell only commissioner-approved product types: no delta-8, THC-O, HHC, THCP or hemp vapes/inhalants. 5. Meet NDAC 7-20 standards – ≤5 mg total THC per serving, CBD:THC >15:1, independent COA, child-resistant packaging and required warnings.

Related

Not legal advice. Links and summaries verified September 29, 2026; laws change — always confirm with the official links and a licensed attorney before you sell.