BISMARCK - The North Dakota Department of Health announced Monday, Oct. 29, its medical marijuana program will accept patient and caregiver applications.

Patients will need to provide information like contact information, a copy of their driver's license, a recent photo of themselves and their health care provider's name and work email address. The health care provider must complete a written certification stating that the patient is likely to receive "therapeutic or palliative benefit" from using medical marijuana.

Caregivers must submit similar information as patients, but they will have their criminal history record checked. State law requires a nonrefundable $50 application fee for patients and caregivers.

Instructions and a link to the online applications can be found at www.ndhealth.gov/MM.

“Through the diligent work of division staff and working closely with our information technology contractor, we have been able to finalize application materials within our established timeframe," the state's top medical marijuana regulator Jason Wahl said in a statement.

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The department expects registry identification cards will be printed and mailed in December. The agency has identified two companies to register as dispensaries in Fargo and Bismarck, and Wahl said they could have products available late this year or early 2019.

State legislative staffers previously predicted there would be 1,900 patients during the two-year budget cycle that ends in July, and that half of the patients would have a caregiver.