Colorado cannabis business compliance guide

In this guide, we'll cover:
Legally reviewed by:

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Dutchie does not provide compliance advice. Merchants are responsible for their own compliance. External Dutchie compliance documentation may be updated from time to time and has been prepared for informational purposes only, is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or compliance advice. Merchants should consult their own tax, legal and compliance advisors to determine how best to operate within the cannabis industry.

Market Type

In Colorado, cannabis is regulated by the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED). Medical and adult-use cannabis are allowed.Β 

Tracking & Inventory

Colorado uses Metrc as their state traceability system. In Colorado, medical and adult-use cannabis inventory are separated and must be tracked in separate medical and adult-use Metrc accounts.Β 

Purchase Limits

Adult-use

A Retail Marijuana Store shall not sell to a person in a single day more than:

  • One ounce of marijuana flower;
  • 8 grams of marijuana concentrate; or
  • 800 mg of THC in Retail Marijuana Product

Non-edible, non-psychoactive Retail Marijuana Products including ointments, lotions, balms, and other non-transdermal topical products are exempt from the one-ounce quantity limit on Transfers.

Medical

In Colorado, a Medical Marijuana Store shall not sell to a single patient in a single day more than:

For patients 18-20:

  • Two ounces of medical marijuana flower; or
  • Two grams of Medical Marijuana Concentrate; or
  • Medical Marijuana Products containing a combined total of 20,000 mg.

For patients 21+:

  • Two ounces of medical marijuana flower; or
  • Eight grams of Medical Marijuana Concentrate; or
  • Medical Marijuana Products containing a combined total of 20,000 mg.

and

  • 6 plants/clones;
  • Half of the extended plant count; or
  • 6 marijuana seeds

Equivalencies

Colorado uses different equivalencies for medical and adult use markets.

Adult Use Equivalencies

  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to eight [8] grams of concentrate
  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to 800 mg of THC in Retail Marijuana Product

Medical Equivalencies

  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to one [1] gram of concentrate for patients 18-20, and equivalent to four [4] grams of concentrate for patients 21 and over.
  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to 10,000 mg of THC in Medical Marijuana Product

Taxes

Adult-use

Adult use marijuana is exempt from sales tax, and instead taxed by the state at a 15% rate.Β  County and municipal taxes may still apply.

Medical

Medical marijuana is subject to sales tax, but is not otherwise taxed by the state.

Delivery

Delivery may only be conducted for patients and customers over the age of 21.Β  18-20 patients may not receive delivery.

Delivery operations

Delivery operations in Colorado are only allowed to carry inventory for their current deliveries.Β Β 

Delivery locations

Retailers may only deliver to a private residence, except any located on school/campus, public property, or within a commercial property unit.

Things to Note

Special rules, things that have come up, regulator confirmation of things, guidance

State Resources

The MED hosts guidance, bulletins, and all rules.

Colorado

FAQs

How much does it cost to open a dispensary in New York?

How long does it take for applications to be reviewed?

How many licenses do we expect New York to issue?

Has New York identified what the application will look like?

How will the office evaluate applications?

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