Bismarck's first medical marijuana dispensary to open next week

Bismarck's first medical marijuana dispensary, Harvest, is set to open next Tuesday at 1207 Memorial Highway.

Harvest has another location in Williston. This will become the th facility in the state.

Even though these shelves are empty now, there should be product on them by next week.

Bismarck's Harvest manager says everyone is welcome in this waiting room; you don't have to be a customer.

"You don't have to have a medical marijuana card, so anyone who wants to come in and learn more about the program and what we're doing, they're welcome to, they're able to," said Ben Hecht, Harvest manager.

But in order to enter the dispensary half of the store, you need to check in with your medical marijuana card.

"Where one of our dispensary associates will work on educating and learning a little about why the patient is here, what they need, and ultimately what will help them find medicine that will help them achieve their goals," said Hecht.

The director of the Division of Marijuana says the number of dispensaries in the state will keep going up.

"We're continuing to work with the entities, to move forward in the other four areas, the Jamestown, Dickinson, Devils Lake, and Minot, and we anticipate those four to be open by the end of the calendar year," said Jason Wahl, director of the Division of Marijuana.

Wahl says since the first dispensary opened, the number of registered qualifying patients is growing. There are over 900 card holders in the state.

The Harvest general manager says the goal of the dispensary is to provide medicine for the community.