Colorado marijuana regulators promote new rules that will take effect Monday. These include increased sales limits for cannabis-friendly hospitality businesses. The regulators are also highlighting “successes” of the last year, such as opening online sales.
The state Marijuana Enforcement Division shared a list with lawmakers of the rules that were enacted by legislation signed by Governor. Jared Polis, a Democrat, last year.
The online sales initiative, which was implemented in August last year, is at the top of this list. The marijuana must still be physically picked up from the retailer, but customers can now browse the cannabis products online before visiting the store.
Other key regulations will be implemented as of January 8. This includes increasing the amount cannabis that can sold in licensed marijuana hospitality businesses from one ounce to eight grams of concentrate.
The new regulations will also require that hospitality businesses provide information to patrons about transport options, and set standards to prevent excessive consumption. However, they are exempted from certain requirements relating to video surveillance in certain spa areas.
MED has highlighted regulations that were already in effect last year. These include authorizations for the seizure and destruction of regulated marijuana products posing a risk to public health. Another rule allows cannabis businesses to renew their state licenses even if local governments reject them. And regulators are empowered to issue rules allowing, or banning, “chemical conversion, or synthetic derivatives of cannabinoids.”
In a release, Dominique Mendiola said, “As we enter the new year, our commitment is to leverage the unique opportunity that we have to reflect upon our successes and the lessons we’ve learned as one the most mature adult use cannabis markets in the country.” We look forward to working together to continue to show a model of responsible regulation, as directed by Colorado voters and the General Assembly.
The regulatory update comes just days after Colorado’s Governor, advocates and stakeholders marked the 10-year anniversary of the first legal cannabis sale in Colorado.
“Since Colorado’s voters legalized marijuana a decade ago Colorado has developed one the world’s leading regulatory systems and inspired countless other similar systems across the nation and the globe,” Governor. Jared Polis, a Democrat, told Marijuana Moment.
He said: “The legal cannabis sector has created thousands jobs and helped grow the economy. We have made significant progress in equity, industry growth and banking and used sales revenue to fund schools throughout the state.” “We will continue to push for a more efficient and just system, which best serves the citizens of Colorado.”
MED stated that it would “also announce additional stakeholder meeting in early 2024 with a focus regulatory efficiencies, and operational streamlining.”
As he works to reform federal law , the governor proposes new cannabis tax distributions on a state-level basis in order to promote equity, streamline licensing, and further . He said that Colorado should be the “center” for the global and national marijuana market once the prohibition is lifted.
Polis has separately stated that he supports the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER), a bill introduced by Congress to normalize the marijuana business at the federal government level. He added that federal legalization is what’s really needed to allow Colorado to be a leader in the marijuana industry at the national and global level.
Polis’s Office reacted this week to criticisms from Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis, a Republican candidate for president, claimed that Colorado’s legalization marijuana had led to a rise in the illegal market.
A spokesperson for the Governor told Marijuana Moment that “the facts are Colorado voters approved legalization of marijuana, which is curbing illicit markets, getting dealers off streets, reducing young use, funding school building, supporting jobs, and Colorado’s economic.” “Colorado will gladly offer advice to the Florida Governor on how to improve economic freedom and personal liberty like we do in Colorado.”
Polis has called on lawmakers to take steps that will allow him to pardon people who have prior convictions for psychedelics. He signed legislation in May to implement regulation for substances such as psilocybin and ayahuasca , in line with the legalization ballot initiative approved by voters last year.
Recently, he also approved legislation that strengthens marijuana-related protections to working professionals within the state. This effectively codifies an executive order he released last year.
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Photo by Brian Shamblen.
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