19-03.1-22.4

N.D. Cent. Code § 19-03.1-22.4 (2026)

Controlled substances dispensed by means of the internet

  1. 1. As used in this section:
    1. a. "Covering practitioner" means, with respect to a patient, a practitioner who conducts a medical evaluation, other than an in-person medical evaluation, at the request of a practitioner who:
      1. (1) Has conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient or an evaluation of the patient through the practice of telemedicine, within the previous twenty-four months; and
      2. (2) Is temporarily unavailable to conduct the evaluation of the patient.
    2. b. "Deliver, distribute, or dispense by means of the internet" refers, respectively, to delivery, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance that is caused or facilitated by means of the internet.
    3. c. "In-person medical evaluation" means a medical evaluation that is conducted with the patient in the physical presence of the practitioner, without regard to whether portions of the evaluation are conducted by other health professionals.
    4. d. "Internet" and "practice of telemedicine" have the meanings set forth in the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 [Pub. L. 110-425; 21 U.S.C. 802-803].
    5. e. "Valid prescription" means a prescription that is issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice by a:
      1. (1) Practitioner who has conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient; or
      2. (2) Covering practitioner.
  2. 2. A controlled substance that is a prescription drug may not be delivered, distributed, or dispensed by means of the internet without a valid prescription, but nothing in this subsection may be construed to imply that one in-person medical evaluation by itself demonstrates that a prescription has been validly issued for a legitimate medical purpose within the usual course of professional practice.
  3. 3. This section applies to the delivery, distribution, and dispensing of a controlled substance by means of the internet from a location whether within or outside this state to a person or an address in this state.
  4. 4. Nothing in this section applies to the delivery, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance by a practitioner engaged in the practice of telemedicine in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
  5. 5. Nothing in this section may be construed as authorizing, prohibiting, or limiting the use of electronic prescriptions for controlled substances.
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