Frequently asked questions about marijuana licenses

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. Applications for marijuana research and development and marijuana test facility licenses are not available online. Learn more about how to apply for a new marijuana business license for R&D or testing facility.

Refer to the Marijuana Facility Location Guide(PDF, 295KB). The guide provides tools for applicants to conduct initial research on locations. It also includes information about neighborhoods of undue concentration. Information on other location, proximity, and zoning requirements for different marijuana businesses.

For marijuana stores, hospitality business, hospitality and sales businesses, and cultivations, use the Denver marijuana proximity check tool. It searches the address of your proposed location. The tool will help you research whether your location meets the proximity rules.

The marijuana licensed establishment permitting and licensing guide(PDF, 267KB), can be used by businesses who have a physical licensed premise. To understand the steps a business may need to navigate with all city departments the guide includes an overview of the commercial construction process and inspections. For marijuana stores, hospitality business, hospitality and sales businesses, and cultivations, you can use the Denver marijuana proximity check tool to search the address of your proposed location. The tool will help you research whether your location meets the proximity rules.

Applications for a new marijuana store license, marijuana hospitality license, and marijuana hospitality and sales license require a needs and desires hearing. Applications for a change of location of these license types also require a needs and desires hearing. At the director’s discretion, a hearing may be required upon renewal for these licenses. For more information about needs and desires hearings, see the Public Hearings page.

Step-by-step instructions are on the How to Qualify as a Social Equity Applicant webpage. You will be need to show eligibility during 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. It is 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. They provide capital and/or technical support to a social equity licensee. It allows 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 take part in the accelerator program were available beginning Jan. 1, 2021. For all rules about the accelerator program, see MED's Permanent Rules. 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 must be majority-owned by one or more social equity licensees.  

• New retail and medical marijuana transporter licensees who qualify as social equity licensees
• Retail and medical marijuana store licensees

Licensed marijuana transporters with a delivery permit can deliver marijuana to consumers. They must have a transporter license and delivery permit issued by the City and County of Denver.

Marijuana stores in Denver are not permitted to deliver marijuana to consumers. Stores outside of Denver must use a transporter with a Denver delivery permit to deliver marijuana into Denver. Stores in Denver must use a transporter with a Denver delivery permit to deliver marijuana outside of Denver.

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 gets 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.

A mobile hospitality business must submit a route log to the Department of Excise and Licenses at least 7 days prior to departure. The log must identify the route origin, destination, and all stops in between. Section 6-217(c) of the Denver Revised Municipal Code prohibits a mobile hospitality business from including any school, childcare establishment, alcohol or drug treatment facility, or city-owned recreation center or pool in its route. A mobile hospitality business may stop at a park to pick up or drop off passengers, but marijuana consumption must cease while the vehicle is on park property pursuant to Denver Parks and Recreation rules.