Colorado Marijuana Licensing

What License Types Exist in Colorado?

In Colorado, the type of license an individual or business holds determines whether they can engage in medical marijuana or retail marijuana activities. There are 17 marijuana license types grouped under two major categories: retail marijuana and medical marijuana licenses. These licenses are issued by the state's Marijuana Enforcement Division.

Retail Marijuana Licenses Types

Marijuana licenses under this category allow business owners to engage in retail marijuana business activities. As provided in Title 44, Part 6 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, retail marijuana license types include:

Retail Marijuana Store License

This license is issued for the sale of marijuana products, including edibles, concentrates, ointments, balms, lotions, and marijuana accessories to persons 21 years or older. A license holder may obtain a retail marijuana delivery permit to deliver marijuana and marijuana products to eligible persons.

Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility License

This license type is issued to business owners to cultivate marijuana plants. A retail marijuana cultivation facility licensee can only grow and harvest cannabis for sale to licensed retail marijuana businesses.

Retail Marijuana Product Manufacturer License

This license type permits holders to manufacture marijuana and marijuana products such as concentrates, tinctures, and edibles for sale to licensed retail marijuana businesses. A licensee can also obtain a retail marijuana cultivation license and cultivate their own marijuana.

Retail Marijuana Testing Facility License

This license type allows a laboratory to conduct tests and research on retail marijuana samples. A retail testing facility license holder cannot own or have an ownership interest in another cannabis license category.

Retail Marijuana Transporter License

A retail marijuana transporter license allows a holder to distribute, deliver, and temporarily store marijuana for licensed retail cannabis businesses. A licensee may deliver retail marijuana and marijuana products to persons 21 years or older.

Retail Marijuana Operator License

This license type is issued to a person that operates a licensed retail marijuana business for an owner.

Retail Marijuana Accelerator Cultivator License

This license type permits a holder to cultivate marijuana on the premises of a retail marijuana cultivation license holder with an accelerator endorsement.

Retail Marijuana Accelerator Manufacturer License

This license type allows a holder to manufacture marijuana products on the premises of a retail marijuana products manufacturer licensee with an accelerator endorsement.

Marijuana Hospitality Business License

This license type allows business owners to operate premises where people can consume cannabis. Marijuana hospitality business license holders cannot sell retail marijuana products, medical marijuana, or medical marijuana products on their premises.

Retail Marijuana Hospitality And Sales Business License

This license type is issued for the operation of a business where people can buy marijuana and consume it on the premises. Retail marijuana hospitality business licensees may purchase retail cannabis from other licensed cannabis businesses, but they cannot manufacture retail marijuana products or medical cannabis products.

Retail Marijuana Accelerator Store License

This license type permits a holder to sell marijuana and marijuana products to persons 21 years and older on the premises of a retail marijuana store licensee with an accelerator endorsement.

Medical Marijuana License Types

Licenses under this category permit licensees to engage in medical marijuana business activities. As stipulated in Part 5, Title 44 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, medical marijuana license types include:

Medical Marijuana Store License

This license type is issued to business owners to sell marijuana and marijuana products to registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers in line with the provisions of Article 10, Title 44 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. License holders can also only sell marijuana obtained from licensed medical marijuana cultivators, manufacturers, or other medical cannabis stores.

Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility License

This license type allows business owners to cultivate marijuana and sell to licensed medical marijuana businesses.

Medical Marijuana Products Manufacturer License

This license type is issued to businesses that manufacture marijuana products for medical marijuana patients in line with the provisions of Article 10, Title 44 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Medical marijuana products manufacturer licensees can also obtain medical marijuana cultivation facility licenses and grow their own marijuana.

Medical Marijuana Testing Facility License

This license type is issued to testing facilities for conducting tests and research on marijuana and marijuana products for licensed medical marijuana businesses. A medical marijuana testing facility licensee cannot own or have an ownership interest in another cannabis license category.

Medical Marijuana Transporter License

This license is issued to applicants for providing logistics, delivery, and temporary storage of marijuana and marijuana products for licensed medical marijuana businesses. They may deliver medical marijuana to registered medical marijuana patients, caregivers, and other licensed medical cannabis businesses.

Medical Marijuana Business Operator License

This license type is issued to an individual or business entity that operates a licensed medical marijuana business for an owner.

Medical Marijuana Research And Development License

This license type permits a licensee to cultivate, possess, sell, or donate medical marijuana for research purposes in line with the provisions of Section 44.10.507 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. A medical marijuana research and development licensee may perform research with another marijuana research and development licensee or a public higher education research institution.