N.D. law enforcement preparing for likely Minnesota recreational marijuana law | The Mighty 790 KFGO – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – With recreational marijuana an almost certainty in Minnesota, law enforcement in North Dakota is preparing.  

A House-Senate conference committee will work out differences in the legislation before the final bill goes to Gov. Tim Walz.  

Sgt. Wade Kadrmas, the North Dakota State Patrol’s Safety and Education Officer, said troopers will do their best to identify drivers who may have purchased and used pot or edibles in Minnesota.

“There’s some of the synthetic marijuana/THC out there that they do put into gummies, candy, brownies, whatever,” Kadrmas said. “It is a matter of the officer following his procedures, going through the motions. Obviously, he has to witness some type of driving violation that would concern him. Once he stops the individual, you still run them through the standard field sobriety test.” 

Kadrmas said the patrol will work to train more officers as drug recognition experts to help determine whether someone is under the influence of marijuana or another drug.  

In North Dakota, having less than an ounce of marijuana is an infraction. 

Over an ounce to 18 ounces is a low-level misdemeanor, while 18 ounces or more is a class “A” misdemeanor.