Commissioners to Adopt Updates to the Marijuana Licensing Regulations and Fees

Boulder County, Colo. - On October 29, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners (the “BOCC”) adopted the initial Boulder County Marijuana Licensing Regulations (the “Regulations”) in Resolution 2013-102 to establish and control the licensing of marijuana-related businesses in unincorporated Boulder County. These Regulations have been updated periodically, most recently in Resolution 2018-19, adopted on February 22, 2018.

The Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department is requesting the Board of County Commissioners adopt updates to the marijuana licensing regulations and fees. A public hearing will be held by the Board of County Commissioners on Thursday, Nov. 30 starting at 9:30 a.m. This hearing will be offered in a hybrid format. Attendees may participate virtually via Zoom, or in person at the Commissioners' Courthouse, 3rd Floor, 1325 Pearl St. Boulder.

What: Commissioners Public Hearing on Boulder County Marijuana Licensing Regulations
When: Thursday, Nov. 30 starting at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Attendees may participate virtually via Zoom, or in person at the Commissioners' Hearing Room, Downtown Historic Courthouse, 3rd Floor, 1325 Pearl St. Boulder.
Register to attend via Zoom: boco.org/BOCC-Nov30-2023
Call-in information: 1-833-568-8864, Webinar ID: 160 534 0974

Opportunity for live virtual and in-person public comment will be available. In-Person Comment Registration: boco.org/InPerson-Nov30-2023

Written comments can be emailed to Kathy Gissel at kgissel@bouldercounty.gov and and Mike Koertje at mkoertje@bouldercounty.gov.

Summary of Proposed Updates

In large part, the proposed amendments were amendments to references necessitated by the combination of the statutory Colorado Medical Marijuana Code and Colorado Retail Marijuana Code into the combined Colorado Marijuana Code (“the CMC”), and a similar combination into the Colorado Marijuana Rules maintained by the Colorado Department of Revenue, or by changes in terminology in the CMC, or in the changes in names of county departments.

Other highlights to the proposed changes include:

• References to conversions from Medical to Retail Marijuana businesses have been deleted since these no longer occur.
• A prohibition against online sales by stores in Article 8.5 was deleted, as the CMC now allows these sales with pickup of the products in person and with sufficient identification.
• Article 13(b) now would provide hearings for Orders to Show Cause for alleged violations.
• The fee structure in Article 14(b) is deleted so that public hearings are not required for all fee changes, though the BOCC would still approve any changes in a public meeting. The new proposed fee schedule is attached as Exhibit B in the staff report.

View the staff report to the Board of County Commissioners.

Staff recommends the Board adopt the proposed changes to modify the Boulder County Marijuana Licensing Regulations, and to approve the new fee schedule, both changes effective January 1, 2024.

View more information on the Boulder County Marijuana Licensing webpage, or email Kathy Gissel, Permit & License Operations Manager, at kgissel@bouldercounty.gov or call 720-564-2626.