Today’s cannabis legislation has been in place in Colorado for one year. It marks massive changes to the way the state approached cannabis use prior to 2014. The law gives cannabis users a lot of freedom, but also allows for serious consequences for those who abuse the privilege. We’ll cover the basics below, though interested parties would do well to review this Colorado marijuana guide from LeafBuyer.
- Who Can Buy Cannabis in Colorado? All adults, over the age of 21, may buy cannabis in Colorado, with a government issued ID. Drivers’ Licenses and Passports are two acceptable varieties.
- Where and When Can Cannabis Be Purchased? Cannabis must be purchased from state-licensed dispensaries and institutions. Cannabis is for sale in establishments like these in most parts of the state, though their hours of operation are not the same in every community. At the state level, cannabis purveyors may sell their wares between the hours of 8 AM and Midnight. Most townships restrict these hours somewhere, with 7 PM being a common closing time. Denver borders the town of Edgewater, where the Midnight closing time is allowed.
- How Much Cannabis May Be Possessed? Up to one ounce of cannabis may be owned by any adult, resident or state visitor, over the age of 21. This is not limited to the raw, green state of the cannabis plant. Adults may also be in legal possession of up to one ounce of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. THC may be included in many derivative products, so edible products and other items may be legally owned, according to the total weight of THC within.
- Where Can Cannabis Be Consumed? The legal language is somewhat vague in this respect, but “open and public” consumption is disallowed. Colorado police issued nearly 700 citations in 2014 for public consumption, so this is no joke. In practice, users tend to consume cannabis at home, with public discretion, or in private cannabis clubs with 1-day memberships. Public coffee shops and smoking houses are not in place in Colorado at present.
- Can a User Be Publicly Intoxicated? There is nothing to prevent users from being under the influence in public, just not while driving. If 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood are found in a driver, the law has similar rules to driving under the influence of alcohol. The state recognizes that individual response to cannabis varies greatly, so people with THC levels in excess of the 5 nanogram threshold may argue in a court of law that the amount they were charged with does not produce impairment in them as individuals.
- Can cannabis be exported?
This is a general guide to cannabis in Colorado. Interested parties would do well to read more on current legislation as new laws can go into effect without much warning.