Colorado
Adult Use

Colorado Cannabis Laws & Dispensary Compliance Guide

Last reviewed: June 14, 2026

Francine Whu Muhammad, JD
Reviewed byFrancine Whu Muhammad, JDSenior Director, Compliance & Enterprise Risk

Dutchie does not provide compliance advice. Merchants are responsible for their own compliance. External Dutchie compliance documentation may be updated from time to time and has been prepared for informational purposes only, is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or compliance advice. Merchants should consult their own tax, legal and compliance advisors to determine how best to operate within the cannabis industry.

Market Status
Medical &adult-use allowed
Traceability
Metrc (separate medical &adult-use accounts)
Regulator
Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED)

Market Type

In Colorado, cannabis is regulated by the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED). Medical and adult-use cannabis are allowed.

Tracking & Inventory

Colorado uses Metrc as their state traceability system. Colorado runs a partitioned market: medical and adult-use cannabis inventory are separated and must be tracked in separate medical and adult-use Metrc accounts.

Purchase Limits

Adult-use

A Retail Marijuana Store shall not sell to a person in a single day more than:

  • One ounce of marijuana flower;
  • 8 grams of marijuana concentrate; or
  • 800 mg of THC in Retail Marijuana Product

Non-edible, non-psychoactive Retail Marijuana Products including ointments, lotions, balms, and other non-transdermal topical products are exempt from the one-ounce quantity limit on Transfers.

Medical

In Colorado, a Medical Marijuana Store shall not sell to a single patient in a single day more than:

For patients 18-20:

  • Two ounces of medical marijuana flower; or
  • Two grams of Medical Marijuana Concentrate; or
  • Medical Marijuana Products containing a combined total of 20,000 mg.

For patients 21+:

  • Two ounces of medical marijuana flower; or
  • Eight grams of Medical Marijuana Concentrate; or
  • Medical Marijuana Products containing a combined total of 20,000 mg.

and

  • 6 plants/clones;
  • Half of the extended plant count; or
  • 6 marijuana seeds

Equivalencies

Colorado uses different equivalencies for medical and adult use markets.

Adult Use Equivalencies

  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to eight [8] grams of concentrate
  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to 800 mg of THC in Retail Marijuana Product

Medical Equivalencies

  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to one [1] gram of concentrate for patients 18-20, and equivalent to four [4] grams of concentrate for patients 21 and over.
  • One ounce of flower is equivalent to 10,000 mg of THC in Medical Marijuana Product

Taxes

Adult-use

Adult use marijuana is exempt from sales tax, and instead taxed by the state at a 15% rate. County and municipal taxes may still apply.

Medical

Medical marijuana is subject to sales tax, but is not otherwise taxed by the state.

Delivery

Age restrictionDelivery may be conducted for patients and customers 21 and over, or the parent/guardian who is the primary caregiver of a patient under 18. Patients ages 18-20 may not receive delivery.

Delivery operations

Delivery operations in Colorado are only allowed to carry inventory for their current deliveries.

Delivery locations

Delivery restrictionsRetailers may only deliver to a private residence, except any located on school/campus, public property, or within a commercial property unit.

State Resources

About the author
Roy Sherwood
Written by
Roy Sherwood
Senior Regulatory Compliance Analyst

Frequently asked questions

What type of cannabis market is Colorado?
Colorado is a Medical & adult-use allowed cannabis market.
Who regulates cannabis in Colorado?
Cannabis in Colorado is regulated by Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED).
What cannabis traceability system does Colorado use?
Colorado uses Metrc (separate medical & adult-use accounts) as its cannabis traceability system.
What are the cannabis purchase limits in Colorado?
A Retail Marijuana Store shall not sell to a person in a single day more than: One ounce of marijuana flower; 8 grams of marijuana concentrate; or 800 mg of THC in Retail Marijuana Product Non-edible, non-psychoactive Retail Marijuana Products including ointments, lotions, balms, and other non-transdermal topical products are exempt from the one-ounce quanti…
How is cannabis taxed in Colorado?
Adult-use Adult use marijuana is exempt from sales tax, and instead taxed by the state at a 15% rate. County and municipal taxes may still apply. Medical Medical marijuana is subject to sales tax, but is not otherwise taxed by the state.
Is cannabis delivery allowed in Colorado?
Delivery may be conducted for patients and customers 21 and over, or the parent/guardian who is the primary caregiver of a patient under 18. Patients ages 18-20 may not receive delivery. Delivery operations Delivery operations in Colorado are only allowed to carry inventory for their current deliveries.