Denver’s new marijuana code
The bills also created a social equity program that reduces barriers to entry into the marijuana industry by:
The information below provides answers to frequently asked questions and step-by-step processes for applications. It also includes information about required forms and fees for applications.
The city issues the following new medical or retail marijuana business licenses or permits:
The city is no longer issuing new business licenses for:
The following licenses are reserved for eligible social equity applicants until July 1, 2027:
Someone does not have to qualify as a social equity applicant to apply for the following licenses and permits:
New and existing medical or retail marijuana store licensees, and new medical or retail marijuana transporter licensees who qualify as social equity applicants, can apply for:
Applications for new medical or retail marijuana business licenses and permits are available through Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center. Learn more about how to apply for new marijuana business license or permit. If you are interested in applying for a marijuana research and development or marijuana testing facility license, please note these applications are not available online. Learn more about how to apply for a new marijuana business license for R&D or testing facility.
Use the links below to read city and state laws:
Refer to the Marijuana Facility Location Guide(PDF, 422KB). The Marijuana Facility Location Guide provides tools for applicants to conduct initial research on locations. It also includes information about neighborhoods of undue concentration, and information on other location, proximity, and zoning requirements for different marijuana businesses
The city’s eligibility criteria aligns with the social equity applicant criteria established in House Bill 20-1424 and the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division’s rules. To qualify as a social equity applicant, an individual must meet the following eligibility requirements:
A social equity applicant, alone or together with other social equity applicants, must own at least 51% of the license. More specific questions about the state’s definition of a social equity applicant should be directed to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division.
Find step-by-step instructions at the How to Qualify as a Social Equity Applicant webpage. You will be asked to demonstrate eligibility during both the state and local application processes.
The State Accelerator Program allows individuals who might have faced barriers to entry in Colorado's retail (adult-use) regulated marijuana industry to own and operate a marijuana business license as part of an agreed-upon partnership with an existing marijuana business that has been endorsed by the Marijuana Enforcement Division as an “accelerator-endorsed licensee." An accelerator-endorsed licensee serves as the "host" in the accelerator program by providing capital and/or technical support to a social equity licensee and allowing the social equity licensee to operate as an accelerator store, accelerator manufacturer and accelerator cultivator on the same licensed premises or on a separate licensed premises provided by the accelerator-endorsed licensee. Applications to participate in the accelerator program were available beginning Jan. 1, 2021. For all rules pertaining to the accelerator program, see MED's Permanent Rules, and for more information on the program, visit MED’s Social Equity website.
Until the exclusivity period expires (July 1, 2027), licenses granted to social equity applicants under the social equity program must be majority-owned by one or more social equity licensees.
A social equity licensee can sell some or all of the ownership interest in their license as long as one or more social equity licensees hold at least 51% of the ownership interest in the license. All licenses issued to social equity applicants under the social equity program will be flagged for an additional level of review for a transfer of ownership application to ensure the transfer of ownership will result in one or more social equity applicants holding 51% or more of the ownership interest in the license.
Before July 1, 2024, only medical or retail marijuana transporters who qualify as a social equity applicant as defined in Chapter 6 Article V of the Denver Revised Municipal Code and hold a valid license and a delivery permit issued pursuant to Chapter 6 Article V of the Denver Revised Municipal Code can deliver regulated marijuana to private residences of customers and patients, subject to the provisions of the Colorado Marijuana Code. This applies to cross-jurisdictional delivery as well. Stores located outside of Denver must use a Denver-licensed transporter with a Denver delivery permit to deliver marijuana into Denver. Stores located in Denver must use a Denver licensed-transporter with a Denver delivery permit to deliver marijuana to residences outside of Denver.
On and after July 1, 2024, all medical and retail marijuana transporters and medical and retail marijuana stores holding a valid license and a delivery permit issued pursuant to Chapter 6 Article V of the Denver Revised Municipal Code can deliver regulated marijuana to private residences of customers and patients, subject to the provisions of the Colorado Marijuana Code.
Applications for delivery permits are available through Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center. Learn more about how to apply for new marijuana business license or permit.
This list of delivery permits issued to stores and transporters is updated daily.
Marijuana hospitality business licenses (including a marijuana hospitality business license with a mobile premises) and retail marijuana hospitality and sales business licenses are reserved for social equity applicants until July 1, 2027.
Applications for marijuana hospitality business licenses (including hospitality business licenses with a mobile premises) and retail marijuana hospitality and sales business licenses are available through Denver's Online Permitting and Licensing Center. Learn more about how to apply for new marijuana business license or permit.
Pursuant to Chapter 6 Article V of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, Sec. 6-205: It shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not they are licensed in another jurisdiction, to engage in any form of business or commerce involving marijuana within the city without a valid local license or permit issued pursuant to this Article V authorizing that business and a corresponding state license or permit issued pursuant to the Colorado Marijuana Code authorizing the same business.
Department of Excise and License 201 W Colfax Ave, Dept. 206 Denver, CO 80202 MarijuanaInfo@Denvergov.org