Colorado Cannabis Market Faces Potential Major Changes

Lawmakers in Colorado are considering bills allowing on-site cannabis consumption and delivery in the state while another bill adding autism to the state’s medical cannabis program has made its way to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk.

The medical cannabis for autism measure, HB1028, also removes the provision in the state’s medical cannabis law requiring specific physicians to certify a juvenile has a disabling medical condition acknowledging that condition violated the state constitution. According to the bill, if the recommending physician is not the patient’s primary care physician, the physician will review the patient record and make the determination.

Polis is expected to sign the measure, which passed the House unanimously and the Senate 31-4.

Moving from the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee to the Finance Committee, HB1230 would allow on-site consumption at municipality-approved cannabis businesses. According to the bill text, such businesses could be permanent, temporary – such as popups – or mobile. The law would place limits of 3.5 grams of flower, one-half gram of concentrate, and 10 milligrams of THC for edibles. If approved, on-site consumption would be allowed in the state Jan. 1, 2020. The bill passed the committee 7-4.

The House business committee also moved the delivery bill, HB1234, to the finance committee on a 6-3 vote. The measure would allow sales of medical cannabis to begin on Jan. 2, 2020 and one year later for recreational sales. The bill limits delivery orders to once-per-day-per-customer.